SEOUL — A vibrant venue in Seoul’s trendy Hongdae district provided the perfect backdrop for BTS member J-Hope’s new solo exhibition, “And What?”, which opened on Friday to celebrate the artist’s evolving journey as a solo performer.
The exhibition, organized by BigHit Music, attracted between 700 and 800 fans on its opening day. It runs through June 22 and offers an immersive experience that highlights both J-Hope’s accomplishments and his future artistic ambitions.
“We carefully considered how to represent J-Hope’s identity as an artist,” said a HYBE representative from the event’s planning team. “What stood out most was his artistic versatility — his ability to embody many different creative personas.”
This concept materializes in five themed sections: the Pioneer, the Dancer, the Performer, the Storyteller, and the Musician. Upon entry, fans receive a randomly assigned card representing one of these facets, then proceed through an exhibit that begins with J-Hope’s iconic greeting: “I am your hope, you are my hope, I am J-Hope.”
The Pioneer section honors key moments in his solo journey, such as being the first BTS member to go solo, the first Korean act to perform on the main stage at Lollapalooza in 2022, and the first solo K-pop artist to headline at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
The Dancer and Performer zones spotlight J-Hope’s roots in street dance and his dynamic stage presence, including footage from past concerts. A recorded message from J-Hope plays in this area: “I think I feel the happiest when I’m on stage. I’ll keep singing and dancing just like I always have, so please continue to watch me and love me for who I am.”
In the Storyteller section, fans interact with a colorful ball pit filled with plastic spheres featuring personal keywords — from “Gwangju,” his hometown, to playful nicknames like “Squirrel.” One featured ball displays the Korean word for “ambition.”
The final section, the Musician, was a fan favorite, showcasing costumes and artifacts from his solo releases including Hope World (2018), “on the street” (2023), and recent digital singles “Sweet Dreams” and “Mona Lisa.” The display ends with a dedicated space for his upcoming single, “Killin’ It Girl,” due out June 13.
At the merchandise zone, fans flocked to secure the Acorn Keyring Charm, a plush item in multiple colors corresponding to stops on J-Hope’s ongoing “Hope on the Stage” world tour.
The tour kicked off on February 28 at Seoul’s KSPO Dome and will span 31 shows across 15 cities, including New York, Mexico City, Saitama, Singapore, and Osaka. It will conclude with two final performances at Goyang Stadium near Seoul on June 13 and 14.
Sayart / Kang In sig insig6622@naver.com
