Abu Dhabi, Seoul collaboration brings discussion on contemporary art to Manarat Al Saadiyat
The exhibition spanning six decades of Korean contemporary art kicked off Friday as a collaboration between the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and Seoul Museum of Art, as part of Abu Dhabi Festival 2025.
'The Abu Dhabi Festival is a beacon for consolidating the role of cultural diplomacy in strengthening cooperation and partnerships with friendly nations,' said Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs as well as a founding honorary patron of the Abu Dhabi Festival.
'In this regard, and based on the importance of its role in building bridges of cultural dialogue between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Korea, this exceptional exhibition embodies the advanced and prosperous strategic relations between the UAE and the friendly Republic of Korea,' he added, using the formal name of South Korea.
The public program 'Layered Dialogues' takes place May 29, June 14 and 20.
The upcoming program on May 29 is a panel discussion with the theme of 'Body as Medium InterFaces: Skin/Screen,' held in collaboration with the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.
'Featuring 48 exceptional works by pioneering South Korean artists, accompanied by an interactive community program open to all, this first-ever exhibition in the Middle East of the Seoul Museum of Art's collection at Manarat Al Saadiyat offers a unique opportunity to introduce local and regional audiences to the masterpieces of modern art,' said Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, minister of tolerance and coexistence as well as a patron of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation.
Co-curated by UK-based independent curator Maya El Khalil and Yeo Kyung-hwan of the Seoul Museum of Art, "Layered Medium" traces key moments in Korea's contemporary art history, beginning with the radical experimentation of the 1960s and 1970s, when artists began working with video, photography and performance.
'Through our historic partnership with the world-renowned Seoul Museum of Art, we are setting a precedent for international institutional partnerships — thanks to the strength and depth of our shared ties. This is the first exhibition of the museum's collections outside of Korea, and the first exhibition of this magnitude of Korean art in the Arab world,' said Huda Alkhamis, founder of both the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and Abu Dhabi Festival.
"Layered Medium" is presented as part of Abu Dhabi Festival 2025, with the support of the festival's principal partners — Mubadala Investment Company and G42 — and its energy partner, GS Energy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
4 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Journalist adopts cat behind 'frozen Han River' meme
"Over the Han River, frozen solid, a cat is walking," goes a popular internet meme that swept across Korean social media last year. Lee Dong-hak, the MBN video journalist who filmed the original clip of a cat crossing the river, revealed through his YouTube channel last week that he located and adopted the very female cat that inadvertently sparked the meme. Originally aired on Dec. 27, 2021, the news clip covered a cold snap that gripped the country, freezing a part of the wide river running through the nation's capital. However, it went viral for the anchor's description of the lonely cat's walk once it was spotted, particularly his use of the word "kong kong" — a Korean onomatopoeia for the state of being frozen solid. The somewhat rhythmic phrasing led internet users to add a melody and rhythm to the clip, which spurred a TikTok dance trend. It took off, with K-pop stars including IU, members of Twice, Seventeen, aepa's Karina and BTS' Jin taking part in the "Kong-nyangi Challenge," named by combining the slang word for cat, "nyangi," with kong from kong kong. The popular meme led to the stray cat being found by someone on the internet, who posted her photo and the information that she was seen at Ttukseom Hangang Park in Seoul. "I've always felt bad for not caring for the cat who gave so much joy to the people," Lee wrote in the YouTube video. "I thought there was little chance I would find her, but I went anyway. ... Then I saw a cat, and I knew instantly it was the one that I filmed that day." Lee said he recognized the cat by the patterns on her fur and got close by feeding her every night. He eventually adopted her and named her Kong Kong, after the popular meme. The journalist said he logged onto the animal protection information system to find that a female cat resembling her had been neutered in March of 2021. He also found online photos and videos that appear to be of Kong Kong dating back to April of 2020. In them, she appeared younger with both her ears intact. Clipping the ear is a standard procedure here after neutering a stray cat. Based on this information, he presumed that Kong Kong was born sometime in 2019. The two videos about the popular cat getting a home have garnered over 400,000 views as of Wednesday.
Korea Herald
6 hours ago
- Korea Herald
S. Korea to mark 80th Liberation Day with commemorative ceremony, formal inauguration of Lee
South Korea will commemorate its National Liberation Day on Friday with a series of major events in central Seoul: a morning ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, and an inauguration ceremony for President Lee Jae Myung in the evening. At 10 a.m., the commemoration of the 80th National Liberation Day will take place at the Sejong Center for Performing Arts. Around 2,500 people, including descendants of independence activists, senior government officials, diplomatic missions to Korea as well as representatives of various social groups, will be in attendance. Eighty national flags of Korea will be displayed on stage in commemoration of the 80th anniversary, while the opening performance, 'Arirang Rhapsody,' will blend traditional Korean music, orchestra and choral elements in symbolism of the country's growth over eight decades. The descendants of 80 independence activists will also join the stage during the performance. Another celebratory performance will also take place in the form of a theatrical production, showcasing Korea's cultural strength envisioned by late independence leader Kim Gu. The program will also feature the Pledge of Allegiance, accompanied by actor Cho Jin-woong, as well as a commemorative address and an award ceremony where Independence Merit Awards will be handed out to the independence activists' descendants. A total of 311 people have been named as recipients this year, and five of those recipients will receive the award in person at the ceremony. In the evening, an inauguration ceremony for President Lee will take place at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, central Seoul. Lee, who assumed the presidency on June 4, took the position without the customary transition period or ceremony. According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the event will bring together leading figures across various fields in Korean society — including business, culture, education, labor, science and technology and women's affairs — alongside senior government officials and politicians, and foreign diplomats based in Korea. Some 3,500 citizens who applied in advance will also be in attendance. Eighty citizen representatives, including trauma surgeon and director of the Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital Lee Guk-jong and go master Lee Se-dol will take the stage to hand the letter of appointment to Lee. Each representative will deliver the letter, which contains their hopes and wishes for Korea and its future. The event will be followed by the president's remarks, expressing gratitude and commitment for his remaining career in office. The evening ceremony will also consist of cultural performances, featuring a musical performance by veteran singer Lee Eun-mi and a performance of 'Golden' from the "K-pop Demon Hunters" soundtrack by Izna. Both opposition parties — the People Power Party and New Reform Party — stated that they will not be attending Lee's inauguration ceremony. Representatives from both parties were quoted in local media reports saying that they found 'no clear purpose' for the appointment ceremony and said it 'does not align with the spirit of National Liberation Day.'
Korea Herald
7 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Titan Content's first K-pop group AtHeart makes bold step with 'Plot Twist'
K-pop label founded by former SM CEO Han Se-min launches six-member group, hoping to make big waves in global music scene AtHeart debuted Wednesday as the first K-pop group under Titan Content, a K-pop label founded by former SM Entertainment CEO Han Se-min. The girl group comprises four Korean members — Na-hyun, Seo-hyeon, Bome and Arin — as well as Michi from the US and Katelyn from the Philippines, all in their teens. "A debut is something that I have always yearned for, so we feel nervous and honored at the same time. We will keep working hard, so please show support and look forward to how we will grow," Na-hyun told reporters during a press conference held at Blue Square in Seoul's Yongsan-gu. AtHeart stepped into the spotlight with its debut album "Plot Twist." Leading the debut EP is the title track "Plot Twist," which is produced by Jonah Shy, creator of hit songs like "Havana" for Camila Cabello and "There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back" for Shawn Mendes. Other side tracks include "Good Girl (AtHeart)" and "Push Back," written by Rykeyz, who has worked with Demi Lovato and H.E.R., "Knew Me" and "Dot Dot Dot..." Lia Kim, the leader of the dance crew One Million, who also doubles as the K-pop agency's chief performance officer, took part in the group's choreography. "Lia always tells us to step outside the box when we perform. She says that we should know how to take in the music, feel it and express it the way we want to rather than simply copying the moves to the song," Bome said. "Not only did Lia come up with the choreography, but she also honed the best work to make the choreography that best fits our song," Arin added. Bome said the main keyword of the group's debut album is "butterfly effect." "Butterfly effect is the idea that small events may ultimately result in something with much larger consequences. Just like how in the butterfly effect, a tiny wing flap can trigger massive changes later, I hope that our music will have the potential to create a big impact in the music scene," she explained.
