Understand what motivated RM, the leader of BTS, to adopt the hobby of always visiting different art museums around the world
The life of a K-pop idol can be extremely hectic. In addition to countless interviews and recording sessions, South Korean pop stars also have to travel extensively to perform in different parts of the world, and divide their time between other professional obligations.
For this reason, during moments of rest, RMthe leader of BTS, has chosen to adopt more peaceful hobbies, such as cycling, reading and, mainly, visiting art museums, something he does even on his days off during the group’s tours.
The passion of Namjoon (real name of RM) for art is nothing new for ARMYs. This is because the artist has always made a point of sharing his passion with his fans through social media, and he always posts photos in different exhibitions that he visits in his free time.
But why does RM like visiting museums so much?
In an interview with Vogue Korea in 2021, the BTS leader revealed that his interest in art museums arose precisely due to the group’s long tours.
“When we went abroad, we stayed in our hotel rooms, except when we were working,” RM explains. “The only places I could go were museums. Art galleries full of Monets or Van Goghs were always packed, but when I visited on a weekday morning and had them almost to myself, I had a eureka moment—an artist who had died 100 years ago was communicating directly with a young boy from Korea. I was so envious. From then on, I started looking for and learning about Korean painters. I’m the kind of person who dives right in when I’m intrigued by something. These days, I’m fascinated by art, and it’s exhilarating. The intellectual stimulation I get from studying art history is immense.”
Namjoon He continued his speech by stating that “When it comes to painting, I can be honest about my emotions. When it comes to music, it’s hard to let yourself get jealous because there are so many great musicians and new talents. Also, painters have very long careers. Some have their first solo exhibitions at 40, and some don’t sell a single painting until they’re 60. But I debuted at 19, and I’ve been told that I’m representing my country now at 27, and people ask me what I’m going to do next. It’s like I’ve transcended where I should be at this point in my life. That’s why I want to have the longevity of painters. When I visit an art gallery, time seems to stand still, and I can reflect on myself.”
In another interview with Vogue Korea, this time in 2023, RM also shared that his first powerful encounter with art happened exactly on the day he visited the Art Institute of Chicago in the United States while on tour in 2018, and had the opportunity to see paintings by artists such as Monet, van Gogh and Seurat personally.
“When I saw those famous paintings that I had only seen in art books or on the Internet, and really felt their subject matter and their presence, I knew I had made the right choice. I have no artistic talent, so I couldn’t help but be amazed, with my jaw dropped, by the incredible colors and techniques of these master artists. For some reason, I was quite moved by ‘A Sunday on La Grande Jatte’,” the artist shared.
As for always sharing photos in museums on your Instagram, RM He explains that, as a public figure, he sees the platform as a “curated channel” that “shows what the account holder is interested in, what they want to reveal and express about themselves. Yes, I sometimes find my role as a kind of art influencer a burden, but I post about these exhibitions and artworks in the hope that people who like me and follow me on social media will also enjoy them. Especially because I would like members of the younger generation, including myself, to be more interested in modern and contemporary Korean art, as well as ancient art forms.”
Source: Recreio
