| RM of BTS in front of Yun Hyong-keun's painting at 'Yun Hyong-keun, a Retrospective" at Palazzo Fortuny in Venice, Italy in this 2019 file photo. / Yonhap |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
RM, a member of K-pop sensation BTS, has donated 100 million won ($84,000) to the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) Foundation, Korea to support the printing of rare and out-of-print art books.
According to the museum, RM donated the money on the occasion of his 27th birthday last Saturday and it will be used to print and reissue books on Korean modern and contemporary art and distribute them to about 400 public libraries and schools throughout the country.
The books printed with support from RM are catalogues of seven Korean artists Kim Whan-ki, Lee Jung-seob, Varlen Pen, Yoo Young-kuk, Park Nae-hyeon, Yun Hyong-keun and Lee Seung-jio as well as exhibition catalogues, "Birth of the Modern Art Museum: Art and Architecture of MMCA Deoksugung" and "The Modern and Contemporary Korean Calligraphy."
RM visited both aforementioned exhibitions on Korea's modern art in 2018 and 2020, respectively, as well as other exhibitions at the state-run museum including avant-garde artist Lee Seung-jio's retrospective "Advancing Columns" in August.
MMCA director Youn Bum-mo said he was pleasantly surprised when RM expressed his wish to encourage young people to read art books and nurture their artistic sensibilities through reading as he also received inspiration and spiritual comfort from art.
"We appreciate RM's positive influence in the art field as he visits museums despite his busy schedule, and will do our best with him to encourage a culture of reading art books," Youn said in a statement.
In addition to his K-pop activities, RM is a well-known art aficionado and visits art museums and galleries regularly amid busy international tours and promotional schedules.
Venues he has visited have become popular among his fans. When he posts pictures with artwork on social media, BTS fans visit the place, touring art institutions after RM.
Art historian and Korea National University of Arts professor Yang Jung-moo said RM's activities could call attention to Korean art in a similar way to how BTS' popularity increased interest in the Korean language, products and culture in general.
"RM could contribute to discover more content in Korean art," Yang said.
RM has frequently posted a wide range of pieces on art on social media, but he has shown a special attachment for Korean modern art, including Dansaekhwa masters Kim Whan-ki, Lee U-fan and Yun Hyong-keun.
In 2019, RM visited "Yun Hyong-keun, a Retrospective," a retrospective of Yun at the Palazzo Fortuny in Venice, Italy. He also visited Space Lee Ufan at the Busan Museum of Art during his visit to Busan for BTS's fan meeting there and left a note in the visitors' book saying "I was here to enjoy (the exhibition), Master! I like your 'Wind' (series)," and the museum has had a jump in visitors after RM's visit.
Earlier this year, RM visited "Yun Hyong-keun 1989-1999" at PKM Gallery and Kim Bo-hie's "Towards" at Kumho Museum of Art.
Most recently, RM posted a picture of himself with collaborative art unit a'strict's "Starry Beach" at the Kukje Gallery on Sept. 12, his birthday.
Meanwhile, BTS became the first Korean group to debut at No. 1 on Billboard's main Hot 100 singles chart with its disco-pop song "Dynamite" in August and has remained in the top position for a second consecutive week.