BTS star RM shares his love of art with museum visitors
Many people know RM as the leader of the pop group BTS, but music is not his only passion. For almost ten years, he has also been collecting art. Now, visitors to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art can discover this side of his life through a new exhibition called “Between You and Me”. It opened on October 3, 2026, and will run until February 7, 2027. Nearly 150 artworks from his personal collection are displayed alongside pieces from the museum’s own collection. The exhibition includes paintings, sculptures and ceramics, bringing Korean artists together with artists from other countries. For fans who usually see RM performing on stage, it offers a different way to understand what inspires him.
RM worked with museum curators to organise the exhibition and added several personal touches. Visitors can listen to an audio guide that he recorded in English and Korean. He also wrote texts about the artworks and selected music to accompany the displays. Rather than telling everyone exactly what each piece should mean, the exhibition encourages visitors to trust their own reactions. One person might notice a painting’s colours, while another might connect it with a childhood memory. You do not need to share someone else’s taste to enjoy looking at art together. The exhibition offers a starting point for a wider conversation about hobbies and creativity. If a musician can find inspiration in painting, perhaps exploring an unfamiliar interest could help us discover something new about ourselves.
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Talk about these words from the article.
passion / collecting / exhibition / personal collection / displayed / sculptures / ceramics / inspires / curators / personal touches / accompany / reactions / childhood memory / creativity / unfamiliar
Discussion
What hobbies or interests do you have besides your main work or studies?
Have you ever collected anything? What made it special to you?
Would a celebrity’s involvement make you more interested in visiting a museum?
What kinds of art do you enjoy looking at, and why?
Do you prefer exploring a museum on your own or listening to an audio guide?
Can two people enjoy the same artwork for completely different reasons?
If you organised a small exhibition about your life, what would you include?
What new creative hobby would you like to try?
