Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits marks the beginning of a groundbreaking three-year collaboration between the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA), launched in 2024.Through a shared curatorial vision, this innovative collaboration unites South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, utilizing assets from both countries to produce exhibitions that emphasize commonalities while reflecting their unique cultural identities. Through this collaborative effort, the exhibitions explore topics like media, technology, and urban evolution, enhancing mutual cultural understanding between the two regions and promoting meaningful international discourse.This exhibition is taking place in Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi from May 16th till June 30th 2025.

Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits, which traces the development of media-based practices from the 1960s to the present, features 48 pieces by 29 Korean artists. The show examines how Korean artists have used cutting-edge technologies—from early video and performance art to more recent experiments in virtual reality, robotics, and even embroidery—to reflect and react to swift social change, drawing inspiration from Nam June Paik's prophetic 1965 statement that envisioned a connected global society. The exhibition, which is divided into three thematic areas, explores the body as a perception medium, society as a storehouse of collective memory and stories, and space—urban, natural, and digital—as a location of multiple histories influenced by globalization.

I got the opportunity to visit the Layered Medium exhibition on May 23, 2025, and it was a genuinely unique and eye-opening experience for me. As someone who appreciates art, I was greatly struck by how each piece told a story like simple on the surface, yet rich in significance beneath. The exhibition challenged my conventional perspective of art and showed me how closely body, society, and space are linked through creative expression. Every piece of art seemed to inspire me to halt, ponder, and see the world through new eyes. I left feeling invigorated, with a greater respect for how art can communicate across nations and time.

As I stepped into the first section of Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits: called Open(ing) Circuits, I felt like I was entering a space full of energy and change of technology .The artworks from the 1960s and 1970s were daring and unique; some of them made use of old television sets, light, or video in ways I had never seen before, specially the TV which showcased the Moon change. By attempting to bridge the gap between ancient customs and the rapid changes occurring in their nation at the time, these Korean artists were obviously pushing the envelope. Their bravery and curiosity were evident as they experimented with novel materials and concepts. Utilizing new technology was only one aspect of it; another was posing more profound queries, such as how we see the environment and how meaning might vary based on our location and level of knowledge. The old photos and documents in the archival section helped me see how Korea’s rapid growth, political shifts, and global connections influenced the art. Walking through, I felt like I was watching history unfold through creative eyes of the artists using their work to make sense of a changing world. It was both powerful and personal bringing some nostalgic moments of TV and now making it in art forms.

Following In the “Body as Medium” section of the exhibition, I felt a deep connection to how we experience the world through our own bodies. Every form of art, be it digital, textile, sculpture, or film, seemed to relate to how we move, feel, and see the world. Never knew our own body can be medium of art and showcasing in sounds, materials through space, and things around us. While some pieces reminded me of the calm, unassuming power of physical presence, others got me thinking about how our bodies are continuously observed and shared in the digital world. These pieces served as a reminder that, despite changes brought about by time or technology, the body still possesses memory, wisdom, and the capacity to alter our perceptions of both ourselves and other people. The artists' exploration of the boundaries between human and non-human, real and virtual, seen and felt, was demonstrated by the exquisite combination of materials and concepts.

In the “Society as Medium” part of the exhibition, I felt like I was stepping into people’s stories—some personal, some shared by whole communities which felt more realistic, like objects, can make us relate to the modern art and to express our own feelings. The artists discussed our identities, origins, and memories using a variety of media, including fabric, film, antique items, and even popular media. While some pieces of art focused on the suffering caused by items that were lost, concealed, or never spoken, others depicted customs and memories that had been passed down through families. I witnessed the power of art to convey both joyous and sorrowful tales, and the profound significance that can be found in something as basic as a print or a photograph. It caused me to reflect on how each of us tells tales differently and how crucial it is to hear other people, particularly those whose voices have been ignored.

In the “Space as Medium” part of the exhibition, I saw how the places we live in like homes, buildings, streets, and cities (neighborhoods) can affect our everyday lives. The artists demonstrated that these locations are not merely plain or empty, but rather are rich in history, tales, and transformations. Some pieces of art examined highways, apartments, or rivers and shown how people, wealth, and power make them what they are. Even though certain locations may appear the same across nations, each one has a unique memory and significance. The artists created a sense of how space may be reassuring, perplexing, or even dominating by integrating digital art, games, sounds, and movies. Real and imagined or digital locations were combined in certain pieces. I discovered that space is more than simply our physical location; it is an integral aspect of who we are, replete with emotions, memories, and inquiries.

Visiting Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits was a special experience for me, an exhibition i never seen one before, which made me open my mind to different kinds of art and its experience. Things which tend to ignore in our daily life helped me think, that we are living in world of art, where the expression of art can make sense and make us feel better about ourselves and world. It even makes me feel nostalgic and made me realize that the artists way of thinking about life and art is totally different for me. My body, the people around me, and our living environments were among the numerous topics that the exhibition got me thinking about. Korean artists employed technology and art to tell stories about our identities, memories, and life transitions. Not only were the artworks beautiful to look at, but they also included history and emotions. Some inspired me to pause and reflect, while others gave me a sense of community with fresh tales. The presentation demonstrated the interconnectedness of all things by shifting from individual thoughts to more general social issues and from physical locations to virtual realms. It made it clearer to me how art can unite people and convey significant narratives. After seeing something so significant, I felt grateful and motivated.