Korean Contemporary Art Exhibition at Abu Dhabi (2025)
A cultural milestone for the UAE, the Korean contemporary art exhibition, Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits – Contemporary Art from Korea, 1960s to Today, will unfold under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, the wife of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Dhafra Region. The exhibition, a collaborative initiative between the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA), is set to be an unprecedented showcase of Korea’s avant-garde contemporary art. This momentous event invites visitors from across the UAE to experience the evolution of Korean art from the 1960s to the present day.
An Historic First for Korean Contemporary Art in the GCC Region
From May 16 to June 30, 2025, the exhibition will be hosted at Manarat Al Saadiyat, a venue renowned for its commitment to showcasing global artistic excellence. This exhibition holds particular significance as it represents the first large-scale presentation of Korean contemporary art in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Not only does this highlight the growing cultural relationship between South Korea and the UAE, but it also marks the inaugural project in a dynamic three-year partnership between ADMAF and SeMA.
Through this collaboration, both institutions aim to strengthen cultural exchange and foster a deeper understanding of contemporary art between the two countries. The exhibition is poised to be a transformative experience for UAE residents and visitors alike, offering a rare opportunity to engage with the revolutionary developments in Korean art over the past six decades.
Celebrating Korean Artists: From Pioneers to Modern Innovators
Curated by SeMA’s Kyung-hwan Yeo and Curator Maya El Khalil, the Layered Medium exhibition features an impressive selection of 48 works by 29 Korean artists. These works reflect the diversity of Korean contemporary art, from the groundbreaking early experiments of pioneers such as Nam June Paik and Park Hyunki, to the dynamic and thought-provoking creations of modern artists like Lee Bul, Haegue Yang, Ayoung Kim, and Moka Lee.
The exhibition’s title, We Are in Open Circuits, is inspired by a phrase from Nam June Paik, a visionary artist known for his pioneering contributions to video art. The phrase embodies the exhibition’s conceptual exploration of medium as more than just material. It serves as a system of communication that transcends time, technology, geography, and identity, allowing artists to express and connect through new and evolving channels. This theme encourages visitors to reflect on how art can serve as a dynamic language, speaking to both personal and collective narratives across different eras and regions.
Exploring Six Decades of Korean Art: From Revolution to Reflection
The exhibition’s timeline spans six decades, offering a compelling narrative of Korea’s artistic development amid profound social, cultural, and technological changes. Beginning in the 1960s and 70s, early Korean contemporary artists experimented with emerging media such as video, photography, and performance, at a time when the country was undergoing rapid modernization and transformation. These experimental works sought to reflect on Korea’s identity and the societal shifts it was experiencing.
As visitors journey through the exhibition, they will encounter the evolution of artistic practice in Korea, from revolutionary and often politically charged works to today’s immersive installations and digital simulations. The exhibition beautifully traces how contemporary Korean art has continuously evolved, embracing new technologies and exploring new media while responding to Korea’s complex social and political landscape.
In this progression, the exhibition highlights the important role that art plays in shaping collective memory and identity. Early works focused on the search for self amid social upheaval, while later pieces engaged with the sensory experiences of the human body, exploring presence and absence, memory, and the relationship between the physical and the virtual world. This shift is a direct reflection of Korea’s transition from an industrialized society to one deeply integrated into the global digital age.
The Evolution of Artistic Expression in Response to Social Change
As visitors explore the exhibition, they will gain insight into how Korean artists have used their work as a response to both local and global events, social upheavals, and technological advancements. Some of the earlier pieces emphasize a struggle for identity and meaning within a rapidly changing society, while later works delve into themes of the digital era—exploring the intersections of physical and digital realities, as well as the complexities of living in a globalized world.
The exhibition showcases how contemporary Korean artists have used various mediums—ranging from traditional forms to cutting-edge technologies—to express the experiences of a society in flux. This fusion of different artistic languages reflects the ongoing transformation of Korea as it adapts to the digital age while also looking back at its rich history.
Public Programmes and Cultural Exchange Opportunities
In addition to the exhibition itself, a wide array of public programmes will complement the event, enhancing visitors’ engagement with the themes of the exhibition. These will include panel talks, artist-led discussions, screenings, and performances that provide a deeper exploration of the exhibition’s themes, as well as the cultural exchange between Korea and the UAE.
One of the highlights of the exhibition’s public programme is the publication of Layered Dialogues, a collection of essays by UAE-based writers. This publication will explore the intersections of Korean and Emirati culture, offering readers a chance to reflect on the shared themes of identity, technology, and contemporary life.
The exhibition’s design, created by the acclaimed design studio Formafantasma, will also enhance the experience. Their spatial design focuses on material storytelling, reinforcing the exhibition’s central themes while providing visitors with a visually captivating and thought-provoking environment.
Future Collaborations: Building Stronger Cultural Ties
The Layered Medium exhibition is part of a long-term cultural partnership between ADMAF and SeMA, aimed at deepening the cultural ties between South Korea and the UAE. This collaboration will continue with Intense Proximities, a second exhibition set to open in Seoul at SeMA in December 2025. This future exhibition will feature three generations of UAE-based artists, further expanding the cultural dialogue between the two countries and showcasing the UAE’s rich artistic landscape.
A New Chapter in UAE-Korea Cultural Relations
This exhibition represents a significant moment in the growing cultural relationship between the UAE and South Korea. It reflects both countries’ commitment to fostering deeper understanding through the arts. By presenting a dynamic spectrum of Korean contemporary art—from revolutionary video installations to the latest digital simulations—the exhibition opens a dialogue about how art can navigate and respond to technological advances, societal shifts, and identity formation.
As the exhibition unfolds, it invites visitors to engage with the compelling stories embedded within each artwork. These stories explore the complexities of modern life, the intersection of the physical and virtual, and the ongoing dialogue between past and future. Through art, the exhibition offers a shared space for reflection, dialogue, and the strengthening of cultural connections between two distinct yet increasingly interconnected nations.
