Everyday Images, How They Address Us at Seoul National University Museum of Art

The thematic exhibition Everyday Images How They Address Us is on view at the Seoul National University Museum of Art (SNU MoA) from September 11 through November 22, 2026. Situated on the university’s Gwanak Campus, this ambitious group exhibition investigates how commercial symbols, digital culture, animated characters, and mass media visuals are appropriated and reinvented in contemporary Korean art.

Housed inside Rem Koolhaas’s cantilevered architectural landmark, the exhibition brings together approximately 120 works across painting, sculpture, and multi-media installation with free admission for all visitors.

Everyday Images How They Address Us Overview and Visitor Guide

• Exhibition Title: Everyday Images, How They Address Us (일상의 이미지, 어떻게 말을 거는가)
• Participating Artists: Gwon Gisu, Osang Gwon, Hwayeon Kim, Roh June, Grim Park, Gihwan Seo, Donghyun Son, Hakchul Shin, Aokizy, Artnom, Dongi Lee, Wonwoo Lee, Yunsung Lee, Doha Ham (14 artists)
• Exhibition Period: September 11, 2026 – November 22, 2026
• Opening Hours: Tuesday–Sunday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Last admission at 5:30 PM; closed Mondays)
• Venue: Seoul National University Museum of Art, Galleries 1–4 (1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul)
• Admission: Free

Four Decades of Pop Sensitivity in Contemporary Korean Art

Pop Art originally bridged the gap between everyday commercial life and fine art in mid-20th-century Western contexts. This exhibition explores how Korean artists have developed their own idiosyncratic visual strategies over four decades, responding to rapid modernization, sociopolitical transitions, and digital hyper-connectivity.

The selection spans critical sociopolitical collage by Minjung Art master Hakchul Shin, the iconic hybrid figure Atomaus by Dongi Lee, sculptural photo-collages by Osang Gwon, traditional ink portraits of Western pop icons by Donghyun Son, and internet-native aesthetic creations by younger emerging artists. Through humorous yet incisive transformations, these works invite viewers to critically examine the visual saturation of modern life.

Three Viewing Points to Experience in the Museum Space

As visitors ascend the spiraling central atrium of the museum, three curatorial themes stand out:

• Subversion of Visual Icons: Look closely at how familiar cartoon motifs and commercial logos are combined with classical Eastern ink methods or intricate craftsmanship.
• Intergenerational Dialogues: Compare the analog photomontage strategies of the 1980s with the slick digital graphics and virtual gaming tropes favored by 21st-century artists.
• Curator and Critic Lectures: Take advantage of public lectures scheduled in October featuring prominent art critics addressing the evolution of Korean Pop Art.

SNU MoA is conveniently accessed via Gwanaksan Station (Sillim Line, Exit 1), located just a five-minute walk from the main gate of Seoul National University. The surrounding greenery of Mount Gwanak offers an ideal scenic backdrop for an afternoon cultural outing. For further art highlights across Seoul, see our features on Shin Kwang Ho at Gallery J.ONE and Lim Eunjung at BGN Gallery.

Official Announcements and Event Registration

For educational talk registrations and visitor inquiries, visit the Seoul National University Museum of Art official site. Public details verified as of September 15, 2026.