Fun Fact
Pioneer Kim Whanki: In SFMOMA's Between You and Me exhibition, curated by BTS's RM, Kim Whanki's abstract paintings visually dialogue with Western masterpieces, beautifully bridging East and West.
Chapter 1
The pop star as curator
Chapter 2
The master of silence, Yun Hyong-keun
Chapter 3
Connecting the East and West
Chapter 4
The artists of the RM collection
YOUR GOAL
Master of Kim Namjoon at SFMOMA
Ch 3 · Connecting the East and West
choko RM x SFMOMA Exhibition
Seoul to the Bay, we're bridging the art! (Oh, side by side!) / Painting a line from the mind to the heart! (Yeah, we connect!)
choko How do paired Korean and Western artworks bridge cultures through shared human emotions?
choko Explore Kim Whanki's legendary dot art at SFMOMA, bridging Eastern tradition and Western modernism alongside abstract giants.
BETA
choko Connect global and Korean artworks to discover how Namjoon bridges Eastern and Western art.
Fun Fact
Surcharged art tickets: The 'RM x SFMOMA' exhibition is so popular that the museum's website experienced an hour-long queue when tickets launched in August 2026.
Glossary
agnes martin (noun)
An American minimalist artist celebrated for her incredibly peaceful, hand-drawn grids and delicate, repeating lines on canvas. Grounded in the 'Connecting the East and West' chapter of Kim Namjoon's SFMOMA exhibition, Between You and Me, her serene works are placed in dialogue with Korean modernists to show how quiet art can transcend global borders. Standing in front of her quiet grids next to the subtle, organic paintings of her Eastern counterparts feels like taking a deep, calming breath in a busy world.
An American minimalist artist celebrated for her incredibly peaceful, hand-drawn grids and delicate, repeating lines on canvas. Grounded in the 'Connecting the East and West' chapter of Kim Namjoon's SFMOMA exhibition, Between You and Me, her serene works are placed in dialogue with Korean modernists to show how quiet art can transcend global borders. Standing in front of her quiet grids next to the subtle, organic paintings of her Eastern counterparts feels like taking a deep, calming breath in a busy world.
Quiz
Which pioneer of Korean abstract art, represented in SFMOMA's collection, is paired in dialogue with Western abstract artists?
choko Han Youngsoo's historic street photography is paired with Yves Klein's vibrant blue sponge sculptures.
choko Discover the beautiful connection between Henri Matisse's bold lines and Korean modern art in a pairing of groundbreaking works at SFMOMA.
Glossary
bridge (noun)
A structure built over an obstacle, such as a river or roadway, to provide passage between two points. In 2026, Kim Namjoon curated his SFMOMA exhibition of Korean and Western masterpieces as a cultural bridge.
A structure built over an obstacle, such as a river or roadway, to provide passage between two points. In 2026, Kim Namjoon curated his SFMOMA exhibition of Korean and Western masterpieces as a cultural bridge.
Quiz
Which Swiss-German artist, known for his whimsical, geometric paintings and color theory, is included in the SFMOMA dialogue?
choko The subtle, hand-drawn lines of Western minimalists share a deep aesthetic connection with Korean monochrome art.
Quiz
Which French modernist master, famous for his expressive use of color and cut-outs, is represented in the SFMOMA pairings?