Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and the Seoul Museum of Art (SEMA) have launched a groundbreaking exhibition, Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits, running from May 16 to June 30 at Manarat Al Saadiyat.

This exhibition marks the first large-scale showcase of Korean contemporary art in the GCC, spotlighting 48 works by 29 Korean artists spanning from the 1960s to the present day. Many of the pieces are being exhibited in the UAE for the first time, offering visitors a rare opportunity to explore the country’s vibrant and evolving art scene.

The exhibition is also the first in a three-year cultural collaboration between ADMAF and SEMA, aiming to foster cross-cultural dialogue through art and innovation.

What to Expect

Layered Medium reflects Korea’s artistic responses to decades of rapid social and technological transformation. The showcased works explore themes of body, space, and society, inviting audiences to consider how these concepts have been reimagined through media, performance, and installation art.

Opening Weekend Highlights

To mark the opening, a series of talks and events will be held, including:

Friday, May 16

• 5pm–6pm: Curatorial Conversation
  Co-curators Kyunghwan Yeo and Maya El Khalil join artists Byungjun Kwon and Choi Goen to discuss the conceptual journey behind Layered Medium — from early curatorial meetings in Seoul to its final realization in Abu Dhabi.
• 6.15pm–7.15pm: Exhibition Design as a Medium
  Designers Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin of Formafantasma talk with the curators about the role of design in shaping audience experience and the spatial relationships between artworks.

Saturday, May 17

• 5pm–5.30pm: In Conversation with Chris Dercon
  Former Tate Modern Director Chris Dercon discusses his early collaboration with pioneering media artist Nam June Paik, and reflects on the evolution of video art.
• 5.30pm–7.30pm: Film Screening
  Nam June Paik: Moon Is The Oldest TV (2023)
  A documentary by Amanda Kim, showcasing the life and work of the revolutionary artist.

Special Panel: Thursday, May 29

Body as Medium: Interfaces – Skin/Screen
In collaboration with the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, this panel explores the intersection of physical and digital interfaces, from skin to screen, and how they reshape our sense of identity, presence, and connection.

A Cultural Milestone for the Region

Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits not only showcases Korean artistic innovation but also marks an important step in strengthening cultural ties between the UAE and South Korea. Through immersive works, thoughtful design, and critical dialogue, the exhibition offers a rich entry point into five decades of creative experimentation.

Where: Manarat Al Saadiyat

When: May 16- June 30

Tickets: Free

For details, visit www.abudhabifestival.ae/