The capital’s cultural calendar just got a compelling addition. Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits has landed at Manarat Al Saadiyat, offering a rare and reflective look at six decades of Korean contemporary art. Open to the public and free to visit, the exhibition runs until 30 June and brings a fresh dialogue between East Asia and the Gulf.

This exhibition is the first of its kind in the GCC. Co-curated by Kyung-hwan Yeo of the Seoul Museum of Art and Maya El Khalil from the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, it features 48 works by 29 Korean artists.

 

The collection includes sculpture, video, installation, and performance art, each piece providing insight into Korea’s evolving cultural, social, and technological narrative from the 1960s to today.

The exhibition’s structure draws inspiration from artist Nam June Paik’s idea of the “open circuit,” encouraging visitors to navigate the space freely. Artworks are positioned like links in a visual conversation — an invitation to reflect on the intersections of environment, identity, and body.

 

Layered Medium taps into shared urban stories. Like Seoul, Abu Dhabi is a city shaped by rapid transformation while maintaining a strong connection to tradition. These parallels subtly emerge throughout the exhibition, creating moments of recognition and curiosity.

Whether you’re a true art lover or a casual gallery-goer, Layered Medium offers a thoughtful experience — one that connects two cities through creativity and opens the floor to deeper cultural understanding.

Admission is free, and the doors at Manarat Al Saadiyat are open from 10 AM to 8 PM until June 30.