'Pompidou Center Hanwha' Opens at 63 Building... Opening Exhibition Highlights Cubism

Introducing Over 40 Leading Cubist Artists Including Picasso and Braque
Remodeled 63 Building Annex Transformed into Seoul’s New Art Museum

Hanwha Group is partnering with the Pompidou Center in France to open a new art museum, "Pompidou Center Hanwha," at the 63 Building in Yeouido. The Hanwha Cultural Foundation announced on March 30 that "Pompidou Center Hanwha" will open on June 4. The museum, which completed construction at the end of February, is now preparing for visitors through interior work and opening preparations.

Hanwha Group is partnering with the Centre Pompidou in France to open a new art museum, "Centre Pompidou Hanwha," at the 63 Building in Yeouido. The Hanwha Cultural Foundation announced on the 30th that the "Centre Pompidou Hanwha" will open on June 4th. The museum, which completed construction at the end of February, will welcome visitors after interior work and opening preparations. Hanwha Group

The vision for this space goes beyond simply establishing a branch of a famous overseas art museum. While it will host exhibitions based on the collection of the Pompidou Center—France’s national museum of modern and contemporary art and a complex cultural venue—the goal is to reinterpret these works within the context of Korean culture, positioning the museum as a platform for cultural exchange. Hanwha plans to hold two special exhibitions each year for the next four years based on the Pompidou’s collection, as well as two to three self-curated exhibitions annually focusing on contemporary art from Korea and around the world.

The opening exhibition presents a clear curatorial direction. "The Cubists: Inventing Modern Vision" puts the spotlight on Cubism, which redefined the sensibilities of 20th-century art. The exhibition features works by Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Fernand Léger, Juan Gris, Sonia and Robert Delaunay, as well as artists less familiar to Korean audiences, such as Albert Gleizes, Amédée Ozenfant, and Natalia Goncharova. In total, more than 90 paintings and sculptures by around 40 artists are organized into eight sections.

What makes this exhibition particularly interesting is that it does not confine Cubism to a single episode in Western art history. The special section "Korea Focus" reexamines the symbolism and cultural influence of Paris during the formative years of Korean modern art in the early 20th century. The exhibition brings together not only art but also photography, literature, and dance, to explore how the aesthetics of Cubism intersected with Korean art. It also traces the impact that the avant-garde movements following Cubism left on modern and contemporary Korean art.

The venue itself serves as an expression of the museum’s unique identity. "Pompidou Center Hanwha" was created by completely remodeling the former aquarium annex of the 63 Building. The site features two main exhibition halls covering approximately 1,653 square meters. The exterior incorporates a horizontal "band of light" concept that contrasts with the verticality of the 63 Building, while a translucent double-glass façade evokes the curves of traditional Korean roof tiles. The building was designed by French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, who has participated in projects such as the renovation of the Louvre, the Élysée Palace, and Incheon International Airport.

Hanwha has stated its intention to expand this venue from a simple exhibition hall into a museum dedicated to research, interpretation, and education. The museum will operate programs based on joint Korean-French curatorship, with the aim not only to introduce international collections but also to broaden the foundation for curatorial research and international networks within the Korean art scene.

The road map for future exhibitions is also aligned with major chapters in 20th-century modern art. Exhibitions featuring Marc Chagall, Wassily Kandinsky, and Henri Matisse are scheduled through 2027, and the first large-scale exhibition in Korea of works by Constantin Brancusi, regarded as a pioneer of abstract sculpture, is also being planned.

Laurent Le Bon, President of the Pompidou Center in France, stated, "The opening of 'Pompidou Center Hanwha' is a significant milestone in the history of our museum and a meaningful opportunity to connect with Korea’s vibrant cultural scene and new audiences."

Lee Sungsoo, Chairman of the Hanwha Cultural Foundation, said, "As an open museum where art, technology, and the future converge, we aim to offer a new experience of encountering world-class art collections in the everyday life of Seoul."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.