Installation view of 《Kwon Byungjun: I Embrace You》. Photo: Hong Cheolki © Seoul Museum of Art
Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) presents
Children+ Exhibition 《Kwon Byungjun: I Embrace You》, on view through May 16, 2027, in Galleries 5 and 6 of the
Buk-Seoul Museum of Art.
Centered on the notion of the “stranger,” a
key concept throughout Kwon’s practice, 《Kwon Byungjun:
I Embrace You》 explores possibilities for coexistence
amid difference, through robots—beings that resemble humans yet remain
fundamentally nonhuman.
Through the expansive potential of “sound,”
the exhibition also broadens the scope of “understanding,” and reflects on the
meaning of “we” from a child’s perspective.
Installation view of 《Kwon Byungjun: I Embrace You》. Photo: Hong Cheolki © Seoul Museum of Art
While the robots give visual form to the
figure of the “stranger,” the sound works foster a more intimate sense of
empathy. For Kwon, sound is an invisible medium that can be endlessly
reimagined and recomposed in the mind. It retains the ability to expand
possibilities for understanding others and creates opportunities for new forms
of perception.
Meanwhile, children possess a unique
ability to encounter the world with curiosity and openness. Seen through their
perspective, Kwon’s robots and sounds suggest new ways of imagining inclusion
and sharing, encouraging reflection on solidarity and community.
Installation view of 《Kwon Byungjun: I Embrace You》. Photo: Hong Cheolki © Seoul Museum of Art
Featuring six works in total, the
exhibition presents a multisensory experience that combines physical contact
with intangible encounters. From robotic installations that offer the
experience of an embrace to a 12-channel immersive sound work where artificial
intelligence (AI) and natural sounds converge, the exhibition invites visitors
to engage with different forms of connection.
Conceived from the idea of “a space that
embraces children,” Kwon Byungjun: I Embrace You is a participatory exhibition
that is completed through the eyes and hands of children. A range of
accompanying programs—including children's guided tours and instrument-making
workshops—has been designed to expand children's senses and interpretations,
encouraging them to actively shape the exhibition experience rather than simply
observe it.
Throughout the exhibition, visitors will
have access to a mobile leaflet featuring artwork interpretations by “child
docents,” while special guided tours led by children will also be presented
during the exhibition period.
