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
Ch 3 · Connecting the East and West
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.
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.
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.
choko Discover the beautiful connection between Henri Matisse's bold lines and Korean modern art in a pairing of groundbreaking works at SFMOMA.
choko The subtle, hand-drawn lines of Western minimalists share a deep aesthetic connection with Korean monochrome art.
Quiz
Which female American minimalist, known for her subtle, hand-drawn grids on canvas, is featured alongside Korean artists in the show?
Quiz
Han Youngsoo's black-and-white photograph of Deoksugung Palace is paired with a vibrant blue sponge sculpture by which French artist?
Quiz
Which Swiss-German artist, known for his whimsical, geometric paintings and color theory, is included in the SFMOMA dialogue?
BETA
choko Connect global and Korean artworks to discover how Namjoon bridges Eastern and Western art.
choko Han Youngsoo's historic street photography is paired with Yves Klein's vibrant blue sponge sculptures.
Quiz
What is a major theme explored by pairing European, American, and Korean artists in the 'Between You and Me' exhibition?
Quiz
Which American color-field painter, famous for large blocks of glowing color, is paired with Korean modernists in the exhibition?
Quiz
Which pioneer of Korean abstract art, represented in SFMOMA's collection, is paired in dialogue with Western abstract artists?
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!)
Quiz
The street photography of Han Youngsoo captures daily life in which city during the mid-20th century?
Quiz
Which French modernist master, famous for his expressive use of color and cut-outs, is represented in the SFMOMA pairings?
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
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.