On view through June 27 at ALT.1, The Hyundai Seoul, Yeouido

Some 150 works on display, including signature silkscreen pieces and personal belongings

'Andy Warhol: Beginning Seoul,' a large-scale retrospective of Andy Warhol, the emperor of pop art, is on view through June 27 at ALT.1 inside The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido.

Having successfully completed a tour of major Italian art museums, this retrospective marks the exhibition's first showing in Korea, presenting some 150 works including Warhol's signature silkscreen pieces and personal belongings. It is an exhibition where visitors can immerse themselves in the pop art of Andy Warhol, 'the artist who foresaw the future.'

Andy Warhol's remark that "In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes" has become reality today through social media. It is a world in which everyone posts eye-catching content on their smartphones and, for a brief moment, is showered with 'likes.' The exhibition begins at this very point, inviting visitors to imagine Andy Warhol as an influencer under the slogan 'Be Famous!' and to survey the whole of his art world, which was ahead of its time.

Alongside the original signature works that come to mind at the mention of Andy Warhol—the vividly colored Marilyn Monroe and Campbell's Soup—visitors can also see the Polaroid photographs that formed the basis of his silkscreen work, as well as his later works now being reappraised. Through these, one can witness the innovative side of Warhol, who thoroughly broke down the boundary between art and consumer culture and newly pioneered the 'pop art' genre.

The exhibition also includes 'Pop Garden,' a space that combines Andy Warhol's pop art with media art, where visitors can experience the mood of Warhol transformed into a contemporary form.

Having completed a touring exhibition at renowned museums such as the Complex of the Victorian Ala Brasini in Rome, the LAPIS Museum in Naples, and the Museum of Modern Art Mario Rimoldi in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, the exhibition now comes to Korea for the first time.

The master of pop art, arriving in Seoul again after about six years, is sure to offer domestic visitors a grand spectacle and a pleasant stimulus amid the fatigue of COVID-19. A representative of the Italian exhibition said, "The exhibition is composed of works that reveal not only Andy Warhol's already well-known image but also his introverted side," adding, "We hope Korean audiences can see the true face of Andy Warhol, who transformed the course of art history, through this exhibition."

An audio guide offering rich stories about the works is available free of charge through Naver Audio Clip. The audio clip was released earlier on February 10, narrated by docent Kim Chan-yong.

This exhibition serves as the inaugural show of 'ALT.1, the complex cultural space inside Hyundai Department Store's The Hyundai Seoul,' newly opening in Yeouido. Hyundai Department Store cardholders and h.point members can receive a 20% discount via Ticketlink or on-site.

Andy Warhol (Photo: Getty Images Korea)