The Abu Dhabi Museum Complex and the Seoul Museum of Contemporary Art have announced the launch of an exhibition titled "Multimedia: All of Us - Open Circles," dedicated to contemporary Korean media art from the 1960s to the present. This is the first event of its kind in the Middle East, reflecting the development of Korean media art over the last six decades. The exhibition will take place at Mina Rashed on Saadiyat Island from May 16 to June 30. This marks the beginning of a three-way cultural partnership between the organizing bodies.
The exhibition takes place under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, esteemed founding patron of the Abu Dhabi Festival. The curators of the exhibition are Kyungah Ham from the Museum of Contemporary Art Seoul and Maya Al Khalil. The exhibition features 48 works by 29 artists from South Korea, starting with pioneers such as Nam June Paik and Pak Hae-kyung, and leading to contemporary masters Lee Bul, Haegue Yang, Eung Kim, and Mok Lee.
The exhibition received its name from the inspiring phrase by artist Nam June Paik "We are in open circles," exploring the concept of media as not only a material substance but also as a system of communication, transcending temporal, technological, geographical, and identity boundaries. The early works showcased in the exhibition date back to the 60s and 70s, including video, photography, and performance art, and follow the evolution of South Korean art in response to deep social and technological changes.
The exhibition invites the public to explore how media forms shape mechanisms of perception, memory, and communication, and examines the evolution of Korean media art from its origins to contemporary living expressions, revealing changes in identity and cultural narratives. The early works reflect the desire to understand oneself in the context of significant social changes, while later works focus on sensorial experiences of the body, interactions between presence and absence, the role of instruments, and methods in expanding horizons of perception.
The exhibition is accompanied by the publication "Perpetual Dialogues," containing texts from the residents of the UAE, aimed at deepening cultural exchanges between Korea and the UAE. The design of the exhibition space, created by Formafantasma, enhances the conceptual framework of the exhibition through its physical installation and outstanding architectural beauty. The program of the exhibition will be enriched by updated public programming in the form of discussion sessions, performances, and artistic events. Details will be announced in the near future through internet platforms.
As part of the wider public program, discussion sessions and film screenings will be held. Complete information about the events will be presented on internet platforms at a later time.
