From left: Cheongju Craft Biennale, Whitworth Art Gallery, Nam June Paik Art Center, Pinacoteca Museum.
(Image provided by Hyundai Motor)
SEOUL, Feb. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Hyundai Motor Company is strengthening its commitment to the sustainability of South Korea’s art ecosystem by supporting international exchange and collaboration among public art institutions.
On February 18, Hyundai unveiled the ‘Hyundai Translocal Series,’ a new initiative designed to facilitate joint exhibitions and partnerships between domestic and international art institutions.
Over the next decade, the company plans to provide comprehensive support, including research funding, new commissions, and exhibition-related programs, to ensure ongoing artistic collaboration.
Jung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, stated, “Through the Hyundai Translocal Series, we aim to revitalize regional art and contribute to the sustainable growth of South Korea’s artistic ecosystem. By supporting institutions that wish to engage in new artistic practices, we hope to foster a space for translocal collaboration.”
Whitworth Art Gallery
Unlike traditional touring exhibitions, the Hyundai Translocal Series will emphasize both the unique cultural contexts of participating institutions and the broader transregional value of their collaborations.
The first exhibition will focus on ‘Textile Craft and Community,’ bringing together the Cheongju Craft Biennale, the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester, U.K., and the National Crafts Museum in New Delhi, India.
The exhibition will premiere as a special feature at the 2025 Cheongju Craft Biennale, opening on September 4, before traveling to the National Crafts Museum in February 2026 and the Whitworth Art Gallery in July 2026.
Jang Jae-young, Artistic Director of the Cheongju Craft Biennale, and Lee Sook-kyung, Director of the Whitworth Art Gallery, described the project as a groundbreaking initiative that honors the shared heritage and innovative spirit of the three cities while showcasing a contemporary interpretation of textile craftsmanship and its interconnected narratives.
Pinacoteca Museum
The second collaborative partnership will involve the Nam June Paik Art Center in Yongin, South Korea, and the Pinacoteca Museum in São Paulo, Brazil, with a focus on ‘Media and Performance.’ The institutions will begin preliminary research and forums in April and May, leading to a series of jointly curated exhibitions starting in October 2026.
Park Nam-hee, Director of the Nam June Paik Art Center, and Jochen Volz, Director of the Pinacoteca Museum, emphasized that this collaboration aligns with the vision of Nam June Paik, who sought to transcend time and space through the fusion of art and technology, bringing together two institutions from opposite sides of the world.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)