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| Outfits worn by BTS members are displayed in HYBE INSIGHT, a cultural complex exhibiting the content of HYBE's artists, in central Seoul. Courtesy of HYBE INSIGHT |
By Dong Sun-hwa
Inside HYBE INSIGHT, a cultural complex exhibiting content featuring K-pop stars represented by HYBE, glamorous outfits and colorful microphones used by the members of BTS are displayed, reminding the visitors of the band's riveting performances. Through small screens, they can also get a glimpse of the stars' personal studios with a 360-degree view and listen to the stories behind their music production.
Hence, for those who want to relive the history of BTS amid the protracted COVID-19 pandemic, HYBE INSIGHT certainly is a good place to visit. Better known as the "BTS museum," it opened its doors to the public May 14 at the company headquarters in Seoul's Yongsan District.
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| Entrance of HYBE INSIGHT / Courtesy of HYBE INSIGHT |
Simply put, with the aid of cutting-edge technology, visitors can use all five senses to explore the music of HYBE artists ― such as Tomorrow X Together (TXT), ENHYPEN and Seventeen ― in the 4,700 square-meter museum. Under the three main themes of "sound," "movement" and "story," HYBE INSIGHT attempts to show the power of music and suggests different ways to appreciate it.
A journey in the museum starts with the Innovative Sound section. To show the delicate process of creating the best sounds for the songs, HYBE INSIGHT exhibits diverse equipment used by sound engineers and producers, such as speakers and keyboards, as well as infographics showing how they created the combination of sounds used for BTS's 2020 release "ON." It also features interviews with these producers, giving a sneak peek into their lives.
The next space is Dynamic Movement, which offers a wide range of photos and videos featuring the polished choreography of HYBE musicians. There, visitors can view the dance sequences from new perspectives. Photos taken using chronophotography capture different phases of the singers' subtle movements in a single frame, bringing people's attention to the "continuity" of their motions.
The Inspiring Story section sheds light on the lyrics. By visualizing the lyrics through eye-catching illustrations, the audience can better grasp the lines and figure out the messages behind the songs.
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| The "Inspiring Story" section / Courtesy of HYBE INSIGHT |
HYBE INSIGHT gratifies the senses of touch and smell as well ― visitors can feel different sound waves with their hands through vibrations if they touch a wooden speaker in the museum. They can "smell the scent" of a song by walking into a room filled with a refreshing scent that was made for "Euphoria" (2018), a solo number by BTS member Jungkook. HYBE INSIGHT is ready to captivate the taste buds of people, too ― it offers special egg tarts and teas at its shop.
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| James Jean's "Garden" featuring BTS members / Courtesy of HYBE INSIGHT |
For special exhibitions, BTS joined hands with internationally acclaimed Taiwanese American visual artist James Jean, who has been a cover artist for DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Jean's "Garden" portrays the seven BTS members as spirits of the flowers that give solace and encouragement to others. According to HYBE, the dreamy and fantastical depiction was inspired by the septet's ballad "The Truth Untold" (2018).
"HYBE INSIGHT brings light to the footprints of HYBE, our artists and the fans," HYBE said in a statement. "It will become a special space where the singers and their followers can interact with each other through music and expand their musical experience."
HYBE INSIGHT opens from Tuesday to Sunday. Visitors can enjoy the exhibitions for a maximum of two hours, but they should make reservations in advance. Tickets are available on HYBE INSIGHT's official website and mobile application. They are priced at 22,000 won ($19.56), but fans can also get photo tickets ― which includes a photo of their favorite HYBE artists ― by paying 25,000 won.
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