This Mind-Bending Exhibition Will Teleport You from Abu Dhabi to Seoul
Robots, weird machines, and enough sci-fi to make your brain do a backflip—this one's for those who like their art with a side of magic.
If your summer travel plans happen to include a cultural adventure through Abu Dhabi (and seriously, they should), you might want to get ready for a little teleportation magic.
Right on Saadiyat Island—a buzzing cultural hub with pristine beaches, luxury resorts, and some of the region's most iconic museums—a cross-country portal has just opened, and if you venture through, you'll find yourself face to face with the wild, shimmering world of Korean contemporary art.
Inside Manarat Al Saadiyat, the island's coolest art space, the mind-bending exhibition 'Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits' is a full-on conceptual voyage through Korea's artistic evolution, told by the very creators who pushed the boundaries of what art can be.
Curated by Kyung-hwan Yeo of Seoul Museum of Art and Maya El Khalil of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation—the two institutions co-organizing the show—'Layered Medium' pulses with poetic robots, glitched-out memories, kinetic sculptures, speculative cities, and video pieces that feel like time machines.
At the center of this buzzing creative circuit is Nam June Paik—the legendary godfather of video art whose works feel like a playful mashup of sci-fi, philosophy, and good old-fashioned mischief.
Alongside him, you'll find some of Korea's most iconic and imaginative voices, like: Yunchul Kim, whose intricate kinetic machines are so alive they might just start humming along as you watch, and Park Hyun-Ki, a pioneer who danced along the blurry line between technology and metaphysics.
And because this is Abu Dhabi—a city that never does things halfway—the exhibition is more than just what's on the walls. A rich programme of talks, performances, and screenings runs throughout the season, inviting deeper dialogue on everything from technology and identity to memory, migration, and modernity. There's even a bilingual publication, 'Layered Dialogues', that maps the shared ideas, rhythms, and visions between Korea and Abu Dhabi.
On view until June 30th, 2025 (and yes, it's totally free!), this is your chance to jump off the usual tourist trail and dive headfirst into Korea's wildest creative playground—all without leaving Abu Dhabi.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CairoScene
18-05-2025
- CairoScene
This Mind-Bending Exhibition Will Teleport You from Abu Dhabi to Seoul
Robots, weird machines, and enough sci-fi to make your brain do a backflip—this one's for those who like their art with a side of magic. If your summer travel plans happen to include a cultural adventure through Abu Dhabi (and seriously, they should), you might want to get ready for a little teleportation magic. Right on Saadiyat Island—a buzzing cultural hub with pristine beaches, luxury resorts, and some of the region's most iconic museums—a cross-country portal has just opened, and if you venture through, you'll find yourself face to face with the wild, shimmering world of Korean contemporary art. Inside Manarat Al Saadiyat, the island's coolest art space, the mind-bending exhibition 'Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits' is a full-on conceptual voyage through Korea's artistic evolution, told by the very creators who pushed the boundaries of what art can be. Curated by Kyung-hwan Yeo of Seoul Museum of Art and Maya El Khalil of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation—the two institutions co-organizing the show—'Layered Medium' pulses with poetic robots, glitched-out memories, kinetic sculptures, speculative cities, and video pieces that feel like time machines. At the center of this buzzing creative circuit is Nam June Paik—the legendary godfather of video art whose works feel like a playful mashup of sci-fi, philosophy, and good old-fashioned mischief. Alongside him, you'll find some of Korea's most iconic and imaginative voices, like: Yunchul Kim, whose intricate kinetic machines are so alive they might just start humming along as you watch, and Park Hyun-Ki, a pioneer who danced along the blurry line between technology and metaphysics. And because this is Abu Dhabi—a city that never does things halfway—the exhibition is more than just what's on the walls. A rich programme of talks, performances, and screenings runs throughout the season, inviting deeper dialogue on everything from technology and identity to memory, migration, and modernity. There's even a bilingual publication, 'Layered Dialogues', that maps the shared ideas, rhythms, and visions between Korea and Abu Dhabi. On view until June 30th, 2025 (and yes, it's totally free!), this is your chance to jump off the usual tourist trail and dive headfirst into Korea's wildest creative playground—all without leaving Abu Dhabi.
See - Sada Elbalad
15-05-2025
- See - Sada Elbalad
2025 Sejong Institute Contest Wraps Up in Cairo
H-Tayea The 2025 Sejong Institute Speaking and Writing Contest concluded successfully in Cairo, marking a major milestone in cultural and linguistic exchange between Egypt and South Korea. Organized by the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in Egypt in collaboration with the Sejong Institute Foundation, the event recognized the achievements of outstanding Korean language learners from Egypt's King Sejong Institute (KSI) branch. Now a growing global event, the Sejong Contest spans 156 KSI branches across 76 countries. Egypt's local contest included two main categories: Korean Speaking and Korean Writing. Sixty-one participants entered the first round, held virtually between March 27 and April 16, with 23 finalists advancing to the in-person final round hosted at the KCC in Cairo. Finalists impressed a panel of Korean language instructors and cultural experts with their fluency, creativity, and strong command of Korean. Winners were chosen based on linguistic accuracy, cultural depth, and originality of expression. Top winners in both categories received all-expenses-paid trips to South Korea, where they will undergo a one-week intensive training program hosted by the Sejong Institute Foundation. This program includes advanced Korean language workshops, cultural immersion experiences, and personalized mentorship from professional educators. These winners will also compete in the global final round scheduled for October 2025, where champions will receive prestigious six-month scholarships to study Korean at top language institutes in South Korea. In 2024, an Egyptian student proudly secured second place in the global finals, highlighting Egypt's growing excellence in Korean language education. 'This contest is not just a competition—it's a bridge of understanding between South Korea and Egypt,' said Mr. Oh Sungho, Director of the Korean Cultural Center in Egypt. 'We are proud to provide a platform where visions and ideas can be exchanged to strengthen the cultural ties between our two nations.' read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War
CairoScene
12-05-2025
- CairoScene
‘Layered Medium' Exhibit Brings Six Decades of Korean Art to Abu Dhabi
The Manarat Al Saadiyat exhibit runs until June 30th, marking the first major showcase of Korean contemporary art in the Gulf. May 11, 2025 Abu Dhabi's Manarat Al Saadiyat is set to host 'Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits', the first large-scale showcase of Korean contemporary art in the Gulf region. Running from May 16th to June 30th, 2025, the exhibit is a collaborative effort between the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA). Co-curated by SeMA's Kyung-hwan Yeo and independent curator Maya El Khalil, the exhibition features 48 works by 29 Korean artists, including pioneers like Nam June Paik and Park Hyunki, as well as contemporary figures such as Lee Bul, Haegue Yang, Ayoung Kim, and Moka Lee. The exhibition explores the evolution of Korea's avant-garde art scene over six decades, highlighting how artists have responded to social and technological changes. The exhibition's title, inspired by Nam June Paik's phrase 'We Are in Open Circuits,' reflects its focus on the medium as a system of communication. Visitors will encounter a diverse range of media, from early experiments in video and performance to immersive installations and digital simulations, offering insights into how media shapes perception, memory, and connection. Designed by the acclaimed studio Formafantasma, the exhibition space enhances the thematic exploration of media and communication. A dynamic public programme, including panel talks, screenings, and performances, will accompany the exhibition. Notably, on May 16th, a curatorial discussion featuring Kyung-hwan Yeo, Maya El Khalil, and artists Byungjun Kwon and Goen Choi will delve into the exhibition's conceptual framework. 'Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits' is open daily from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM at Manarat Al Saadiyat. Admission is free, and further details about the public programme are available online.
