Meeting Basquiat with Park Bo-gum's Voice: 'Basquiat Special Exhibition' Opens in Korea on September 23

From September 23, a special exhibition titled 'Jean-Michel Basquiat: Symbolic Signs Connecting the Past and Future' featuring the modern art master Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-88) will be held at the Museum Exhibition Hall 1 of Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Korea. This exhibition will continue until January 31 of next year and will showcase over 70 paintings and drawings by Basquiat, as well as 8 notebooks containing objects and his creative process, making it the first time these works are revealed in Korea.

Jean-Michel Basquiat was born in 1960 in New York to a Haitian father and a Puerto Rican mother. He met Al Diaz at the alternative school City-as-School and worked as a graffiti artist under the name 'SAMO' (Same Old shit), which means 'boring and clichéd stuff'. After his first solo exhibition in 1981, he collaborated with pop artist Andy Warhol in 1983, earning the title 'Prince of Modern Art'. He not only brought street graffiti into galleries but also broadened the scope of modern art by encompassing jazz, hip-hop, boxing, baseball, comics, and advertising. Basquiat's sharp satire targeted not only capitalism and commodified art but also himself, who suddenly gained fame. As one of the few African Americans in the predominantly white art world, he maintained his identity until his death in 1988.

Actor Park Bo-gum will participate as the audio guide narrator, allowing visitors to experience Basquiat's artistic world through his voice. His warm and emotional narration is expected to provide a unique experience for both first-time viewers and existing fans of Basquiat.

Lee Ji-yoon, the director of SumeX, who oversaw the exhibition, stated that carefully selected works and materials, in cooperation with major art museums, foundations, and collectors around the world, will be introduced in Korea. This exhibition will not only highlight Basquiat's representative works but also focus on various experimental works he has contemplated about the world and art.

Tickets can be reserved through NOL tickets, Naver, KREAM, KakaoTalk Reservations, Yes24, and early bird tickets, which started on August 13, are available at a limited quantity with discounts.