How was your art journey with us in this remote world? We hope you enjoyed looking at these art pieces and learned something new while in the comfort of your own home! We learn something new every day. Sometimes it's a new Korean word, and sometimes it’s about art and culture. Anyone who has been in this fandom for quite some time knows that BTS is known to curate experiences with their music, which not only stimulates your auditory senses but also makes you feel and imagine the song. This experience expands to our visual senses too, as their music videos elaborate on the lyrics and carefully incorporate many different details, which we talked about in the initial Summer Series blogs.
BTS’s discography is a story in itself, from Dark & Wild to Map of The Soul: 7. BTS has excellent storytelling ability and uses various resources to convey the messages of their music. One of the excellent examples of how BTS has taken inspiration from art to create an experience can be seen in the video for “Singularity.” It is particularly outstanding because it incorporates allusions to the painting “Ophelia” by Sir John Everett Millais, Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” and the myth of Narcissus (to name a few).
Similar to art pieces we see that unpeel layers of stories, BTS’ music is not just simply music, but a story which is being told through the medium of music. Not limiting ourselves to how art is being incorporated into BTS’ work, we also wanted to focus on a lot of different artists who have taken inspiration from BTS and their personalities and created art. Some examples are Lee K., Kildren, Ian MacDonald, and many budding ARMY artists.
BTS has been vocal about their favorite artists and shared that with ARMYs. During the launch of the Connect, BTS project, RM said, "We're very excited and really happy to be part of this project. We've been hearing so much about how this world doesn't need art, but we think this is a big challenge for all of us from different genres, we believe in the part of art that can help change the world." Art is indeed a gift, which is incomplete until it is experienced by viewers. In our series, we focused on the Seven Phases art pieces which were created as a result of the James Jean and BTS collaboration.
James Jean has been very honest about his struggles and pain, and he has expressed it through a medium of art. James Jean mentioned in one of his interviews that the narratives of his paintings come from “the quiet, vulnerable moments, from silly coincidences and sensations of déjà vu. From days conquered, devoured, and excreted.” Just the way James Jean expressed himself through art, BTS has expressed their honest thoughts and vulnerable side through their music. This is why we wanted to share the art which embodies the personalities and journey of BTS over the years.
With its new structure, HYBE is now more focused than ever on providing a complete experience to the fans of the artists. From establishing a museum which takes the fan experience to another level to the artifacts that are on display at the museum, all has been carefully molded into a very inclusive environment where fans can learn more about their artists.
The Inclusivity
The opening of HYBE Insight was a way to give ARMYs an inclusive sneak peek into the lives of BTS and other artists under HYBE’s label by not just displaying their albums and things related to their music but also the costumes and mics used in some of the legendary concerts. What makes it even more inclusive is HYBE’s decision to give other artists a platform to display their artworks which were inspired by HYBE artists in the museum. One such artist was James Jean, who blessed us with this incredible collaboration of art and mythological characters.
In recent times, with the ever-increasing popularity of BTS all over the world, HYBE and the members can be seen tapping more into the artistic talents of their fandom. In the year 2020, Big Hit Entertainment (now HYBE) collaborated with Annie Stoll, a Grammy-winning Art Director, who also happened to be an ARMY, for the art design/illustration of the “Dynamite” (70s remix) video.
Apart from HYBE’s attempts at making ARMYs a part of the BTS phenomenon, we can often see the boys coming to Weverse to appreciate the myriad of artworks that the fans post for them. Taehyung has also once asked an ARMY to commission a Simpson-style V artwork for him to hang in his house.
Earlier this year, Taehyung also appreciated another Artmys (Artist+ARMY) on the same platform, who is famously known for her Chibi Bangtan drawings on Instagram and Twitter under the username @kookiechimm.
Image Credit: @k00kiechimm (Weverse)
The Future of Art and BTS
As BTS continues to incorporate references to art and literature in their music and MVs, all while paving the way for the talented fandom to find a space in this journey as well, HYBE, too, continues to find ways of expanding this BTS Universe through different mediums of art. According to a very recent announcement, Naver will be collaborating with HYBE Corporation on a new project named “super casting.” However, this collaboration isn’t a brand new feat, because they have previously produced together a webtoon called “Save Me” in 2019, famously known for playing a crucial role in the Bangtan Universe (BU).
The collaboration is coming back home with a series of webtoons and web novels. This time, it’s all the more exciting as the “super casting” will also be including DC Comics! This could mean growing opportunities and a bigger and better platform for talented fans.
Unlike other artists, this is one of the major reasons that set BTS apart from all the other bands in the industry. The artistry doesn’t simply end with the mind-boggling music production and the genius lyricism. It transcends into art, theories, and narratives that provide a whole other dimension to their performances and songs. With BTS, you do not just listen to songs, but you experience a whole story.
DISCLAIMER: We do not own any audio & visual content in this video except for the editing. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THE RIGHTFUL OWNERS. No copyright infringement intended.
Written By: Yatri & Ananya
Edited By: Esma
Checked By: Anna
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