Hzone

CONNECT, BTS, a global project conceptualized and directed by Art Director, Daehyung Lee, brought together 22 contemporary artists from five countries to present works that align with BTS’s philosophy of embracing diversity. This initiative sought to expand these values through the language of contemporary art.

All the curators involved in CONNECT, BTS engaged with the central question: How can art be expanded? While art is a treasure island rich in philosophy, thought, and history, its value remains unrecognized if it exists in isolation. CONNECT, BTS, in collaboration with BTS, aimed to extend the value of art and bring contemporary art into the public sphere, fostering a broader dialogue on its significance.

Daehyung Lee, Hans Ulrich Obrist, and Stephanie Rosenthal hosting a virtual talk with BTS members at

CONNECT, BTS is a global project that brings the world together. Its journey began in London, where Jakob Kudsk Steensen's Catharsis was unveiled at the Serpentine Gallery.

This work utilizes digital technology to recreate an ancient forest, offering a new perspective on the coexistence of humans and nature. Designed for both offline and online viewing, the exhibition was streamed globally, demonstrating that art is not confined to a single space but can be shared with a broader audience.

CONNECT, BTS realized its vision of communication through art beyond borders, languages, and cultures. Just as music is accessible to all, this London exhibition embodied the belief that art, too, should be open to everyone.

Salinas Grandes, lithium mining site.

Salinas Grandes in Argentina is a vast salt desert, seemingly touching the sun. It is one of the most remote areas, disconnected from electricity, internet, and phone networks, yet it holds one of the world's largest lithium reserves.

Lithium is a crucial resource for advanced industries, including electric vehicle batteries. However, extracting just one ton of lithium requires 20 million liters of clean water, posing a severe threat to local communities and ecosystems.

Tomás Saraceno’s Aerocene Pacha is a solar-powered balloon project that flies using only sunlight and air, proposing a future where technology does not come at the cost of nature. Through this work, CONNECT, BTS invites us to confront the hidden environmental costs of resource consumption and reflect on a more responsible future.

At Gropius Bau in Berlin, Rituals of Care was presented against the backdrop of the Berlin Wall, exploring the potential for art to heal divisions and restore connections in a space once defined by separation.

Though the Berlin Wall fell decades ago, invisible barriers—shaped by national, ethnic, and ideological differences—still persist worldwide. This project used the human body as a medium to transcend physical borders and dismantle social and emotional divisions.

CONNECT, BTS demonstrated how music and art can foster new communities, bringing together diverse cultures and perspectives in harmony.

In New York’s Brooklyn Bridge Park, Antony Gormley’s New York Clearing was unveiled—a sculptural installation made of 18 kilometers of interwoven aluminum lines, inviting visitors to step inside and reconsider the relationship between human presence, space, and art.

CONNECT, BTS extended beyond London, Berlin, and Buenos Aires to New York and Seoul.

At Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul, Yiyun Kang’s Beyond the Scene explored the interaction between light and space through projection mapping.

Meanwhile, Ann Veronica Janssens’ Green, Yellow and Pink offered a sensory experience using color and light, blurring the boundary between reality and illusion.

By merging music and contemporary art, CONNECT, BTS transcended borders and barriers, fostering connections across diverse regions and cultures while opening new possibilities for artistic dialogue.

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Project by

HYBE

Artistic Director

Daehyung Lee(Director of Hzone)

Curator

London : Ben Vickers, Kay Watson, Hans Ulrich Obrist

Berlin : Noémie Solomon, Stephanie Rosenthal

Buenos Aires : Daehyung Lee(Director of Hzone)

New York : Thomas Arnold

Seoul : Daehyung Lee(Director of Hzone)