Sculptor Lee Jae Hyo Had No Idea BTS’s RM Visited His Art Gallery

He and his staff didn’t know until RM posted on social media.

Anyone who knows BTS‘s RM knows how much he loves visiting art museums and galleries.

BTS’s RM at the Met. | @BTS_twt/Twitter

Whether he’s on a world tour with BTS, on a personal vacation, or even taking a short break at home, RM always makes time to visit art museums and galleries. Since he opened his Instagram account, he’s mainly shared photos from his trips to museums, including the Chinati Foundation, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Menil Collection, and the National Gallery of Art.

Last year, he spoke with Vogue Korea. He explained why he so frequently visits galleries and museums.

When we went abroad, we stayed in our hotel rooms except when we were working. The only places I could go then were museums.

I think the fact that painting is a totally different field makes it more enjoyable. When it comes to painting, I can be honest about my emotions. When it comes to music, it’s hard if you let yourself get jealous because there are so many great musicians and new talents. Also, painters have really long careers. Some hold their first solo exhibitions at age 40, and some don’t sell a single painting until they’re 60. But I debuted at age 19, and I’m told I represent my country now at age 27, and people ask me what I’m going to do next. It’s like I’ve transcended where I’m supposed to be at this point in my life. That’s why I want to have the longevity of painters.

…When I visit an art gallery, time seems to stop, and I can reflect on myself.

— RM

While he has shared his trips on social media, RM tends to keep a low profile while he is there. One sculpture shared his personal experience with RM’s visit to his gallery and testified to this.

Arirang Culture‘s Catchy Korea recently aired an episode featuring LEE JAEHYO GALLERY in Jipyeong-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do.

A gallery in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi-do, has gained a spotlight since BTS member RM visited it after his band completed their US tour! It was an exhibition space run by the world’s famous sculptor, Lee Jae-hyo. His work hit the headlines once again by being installed in front of the Myeongdong Apple Store. Lee’s signature sculptures may be familiar to many from luxury hotels in and out of Korea. Let’s hear about his simplehearted life in sculpting.

— Arirang Culture

RM had visited LEE JAEHYO GALLERY in January and shared photos from his trip on Instagram. It’s about one and a half hours outside of Seoul.

Catchy Korea also interviewed the world-famous Korean sculptor Lee Jae Hyo. They spoke to him about his gallery and how he embodies nature in sculpting.

Lee Jaehyo is a Korean sculptor who has exhibited extensively in his homeland and in Europe. He makes free-standing sculptures and reliefs from humble, almost mundane, materials, principally logs and steel nails. These are transformed with great skill and hours of industrious toil into lustrous and refined objects.
— Pantone Gallery

The interviewer mentioned that RM previously visited LEE JAEHYO GALLERY. It’s believed that his visit gave the gallery high publicity, thus bringing forth more visitors.

BTS member RM happened to have visited this gallery. I heard that’s what drew so much attention.

Catchy Korea host

Lee Jae Hyo revealed that not only he but his gallery’s staff had no idea RM was there when visiting. They only found out after RM posted about it, and someone contacted them.

I had no idea. My staff didn’t know RM was here. After he posted his visit on Instagram, somebody called us, ‘I heard RM visited there!’

— Lee Jae Hyo

So, while RM may frequent art museums and galleries, he does so humbly. Even then, he inadvertently turns artists and museums into ARMYs. He has made major waves in the Korean art world, especially by showing his support for them.

Watch the full feature on Lee Jae Hyo below:

Source: Arirang Culture and Pantone Gallery

True Personalities