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).