For our mental well-being, a short break is often rejuvenating. For teacher Ms Michelle Choy, a stint out of the school setting led her to curate an art trail themed around wellness – paired with music from her favourite band, the Korean group BTS.

A teacher with the Ministry of Education for 10 years and an admirer of art since her student days, Michelle jumped at the chance for a work attachment with the National Gallery Singapore (the Gallery).

“I needed something new to inspire and refresh me,” says Michelle, a General Paper teacher at Tampines Meridian Junior College.

She was delighted to be accepted into the Teacher Work Attachment Plus (TWA+) programme, and found it valuable for broadening her perspectives through real industry experience.

For a month in November 2022, Michelle was attached to the Gallery’s Learning & Outreach Team. She observed learning journeys and educational programmes, attended workshops and work meetings, co-facilitated a programme, and designed several learning packages and trails.

“The Gallery was very open to new ideas and gave me a lot of freedom and encouragement to explore my interests,” says Michelle.

Healing Through Art and Music

As a BTS fan (or ARMY, the name for the group’s fanbase), Michelle spent hours exploring the art galleries with BTS’s music plugged into her ears. This sparked an idea to combine her favourite music with the Gallery’s goals as a visual arts institution, such as educating visitors about art appreciation.

“I realised quite serendipitously that several artworks paired well with BTS songs for the themes they touch on.”

As globally influential musicians, BTS promotes the exploration of self-identity, self-love, personal growth, mental health and personal healing through their works.

For example, the lyrics of Magic Shop encourage fans to find comfort and strength. The song makes reference to a psychotherapeutic role-playing technique, where a magic shop owner (usually played by the psychiatrist) “buys” patients' fears, worries and negativity in exchange for positive qualities.

So for the Namjooning: BTS x Art trail (and playlist), Michelle paired the song with a painting titled “Tea Drinkers” by Anita Magsaysay-Ho. She adds: "Personally, I found it very healing to sit in front of the artwork, find time to breathe, and listen to Magic Shop.”

The Namjooning Trail

The term “Namjooning” was inspired by the hobbies of Kim Namjoon, also known as RM, the leader of BTS. The rapper and songwriter is known for his appreciation of art and literature. In recent years, he has made waves for his art gallery visits, personal art collection and donations to restore cultural works.

For fans of BTS, Namjooning has come to be associated with spending time in nature, cycling, reading books and engaging in various activities for self-care – a perfect match for the theme of wellness through art.

BTS has over 200 songs while the National Gallery, Singapore’s largest visual art venue, has more than 9,000 artworks in its collection. Michelle had to carefully select the music and art pairings for the hour-long Namjooning art trail.

As a singer and ARMY herself, she thought deeply about “the musical and thematic journey that BTS would have wanted”. She crafted a narrative arc that flowed throughout the trail as individuals explored issues related to mental wellness.

Making Meaning

While she had access to the context and inspiration behind the artworks, there was not always enough information about each piece. This meant that some connections to the BTS songs could be more subjective.

It required a balance of “being mindful of the artist’s intentions” and creating “personal interpretations of the artwork” to help the participants connect it to their own experiences, she says.

“We also remind people that there is more than one possible interpretation of the artwork or songs.”

Finally, Michelle had to ensure the trail was educational and inclusive to all participants and fans of other music groups, and “not just a BTS tour”.

“During the tours, we do make a point that we welcome everyone, and also invite participants to curate their own art journey and playlists based on their favourite music.”

Pop Culture for Art Appreciation

While conducting the tours, Michelle met BTS fans and visitors from all walks of life. “One participant, who’s a psychologist, educator and non-ARMY, told me that the tour was a refreshing way to open up conversations about mental wellness,” says Michelle.

Several fans shared that they got unexpectedly emotional during the tour. Other participants felt inspired to curate their own playlists and art journey (even with other music groups or genres).

Educators found that using pop culture was a creative and accessible way to introduce students to the arts. “It also helps museums to reinvent themselves and remain relevant to the younger generation,” says Michelle.

The Trail Goes On

The Namjooning art trail, available as a self-guided walk with a playlist, has since been conducted several times as a school learning journey and guided tour for the public.

Ms Kng Mian Tze, Assistant Director (Engagement) at the National Gallery Singapore, says: “The Namjooning art trail has created much excitement and awareness of the Gallery beyond the usual museum-goers. It’s blazing new ground in many aspects.”

Michelle adds: “On social media, this unique offering drew praise from the global fan community. Some even commented that every museum around the world should have a similar programme.”

Many international ARMYs who flew in for the June concerts of another BTS member, SUGA, joined the art trail as well.

Through this trail, Michelle hopes to inspire greater interest in art while allowing participants to embark on a journey of self-discovery, healing and mental wellness.

“Whether you are a visual artist or a musician, art is a reflection of life and society. It can be a very powerful vehicle to convey messages or even social commentary.”

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