BTS leader RM, renowned for his deep love of art, is unveiling his personal collection to the public for the first time at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), an exhibition he personally conceived and co-curated.
Ahead of the exhibition's official opening on October 3 (local time), RM shared his thoughts as a co-curator during a media preview held at SFMOMA. "It's been a while since I gave a speech, so I revised my draft more than ten times, but it only seemed to complicate my thoughts," he admitted candidly, before opening up about his honest philosophy and perspective on art.
RM, who has been collecting artwork for about eight years, smiled as he recalled, "I first received the proposal from SFMOMA two years ago while serving in the military. Before opening my own dream space someday, I thought it would be a great experience to borrow a venue of this scale and prestige to try something new. But I never imagined it would lead to writing and rewriting artwork labels hundreds of times."
RM also opened up about his emotional connection to art, remarking, "Working between Korea and the United States, even at this very moment, I often feel as if I am drifting somewhere. It's not a pleasant feeling, but whenever that happens, I've leaned heavily on art. Art and music use different languages and mediums, but they are ultimately the same in that they both strive to say something."
He also reflected on his complex feelings regarding collecting. "Ever since I was young, I wondered whether I really needed to carry around so many unnecessary things, and whether I might have just ended up becoming a boring snob with a lot of money," RM confessed with his signature honesty. He added, "Still, I decided to unveil my collection with the hope that others would be able to see it, too."
Among the pieces featured in the exhibition, approximately 140 come from RM's personal collection. SFMOMA introduced the showcase as one of the most comprehensive presentations of modern and contemporary Korean art ever held in the United States.
Describing himself as an "outsider in the art world" who has never formally studied art history nor worked as a professional creator, RM concluded, "As a young person from Korea, I collected these pieces hoping to bring a newer, younger, and perhaps better perspective and sensibility, and that passion ultimately led to this exhibition. This is my self-introduction, and I hope people can get to know me a little better and enjoy the pleasure of visiting an art exhibition."
The special exhibition co-organized by RM and SFMOMA, titled "RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me," runs from October 3 (local time) through February 7, 2027. About 180 works carefully selected by RM and SFMOMA will be brought together in one place. The showcase features pieces by master artists representing modern and contemporary Korean art—such as Yun Hyong-keun, Park Rae-hyun, Chang Ucchin, Kwon Ok-yeon, Kim Yun-shin, and Do Sang-bong—alongside works from SFMOMA's collection by Kim Whanki, Nam Jun Paik, Mark Rothko, Agnes Martin, Henri Matisse, and Georgia O'Keeffe. Visitors can also explore the rich trajectory of Korean art spanning from the 6th century to the present through ceramics, calligraphy, paintings, and sculptures.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)