RM Takes on Role as Curator at U.S. Art Museum: "An Outsider's Perspective Can Bring a Breath of Fresh Air"

[Financial News] BTS leader RM (Kim Nam-jun) has taken on a new role as a co-curator at SFMOMA in San Francisco.
RM attended a preview event for the exhibition at SFMOMA on the 29th (local time) and opened by saying, "I am nervous to be making my debut as a co-curator." He said, "Eight years ago, when I first started visiting museums and encountering works of art, I never dreamed a day like this would come." He explained, "This project began two years ago when the museum approached me while I was serving in the military." He then joked, "At the time, because I was serving in the military, I would have accepted any proposal that came from San Francisco," and recalled, "I thought it would be a good experience before personally opening the exhibition space I had dreamed of."
Discussing what prompted him to start collecting art, he confessed, "Whether I am in the United States or Seoul, I feel as though I am drifting and floating somewhere." He added, "I think those feelings led me to rely heavily on art." He continued, "Art and music use different media, but in that they seek to say something, they are the same."
However, RM admitted, "I've liked collecting things since I was young, but I sometimes feel guilty about it." He asked, "Is it okay for me to own this many things that I don't need? Have I perhaps become nothing more than a boring person with a lot of money?" He said, "Maybe I have, but I wanted to show my collection because I hoped other people could see these works too."
Speaking about the nature of the exhibition, he said, "We talked a lot about the personal and the universal, East and West, modernity and contemporaneity, but as the exhibition approached, I found myself wondering, 'Are all of those things really that important?'" He added, "Maybe it would be enough if it were simply a good, new and interesting exhibition." He said that writing descriptions of the works was the most difficult part because he does not work in the art world, but also expressed confidence, stating, "In any field, an outsider's perspective can sometimes bring a breath of fresh air."
RM also explained, "Over the past century, Korea has experienced colonial rule, war and extremely rapid development. Much has disappeared, while brilliant things have also been created." He continued, "As a young person from Korea, I have collected works with the desire to add a somewhat newer and younger, perhaps better, perspective and sensibility, and that process led to this exhibition." He described the exhibition by saying, "Ultimately, this exhibition is an opportunity to give an extended introduction to myself."
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