The Centre Pompidou Hanwha, established through a partnership between the Hanwha Foundation of Culture and France’s Centre Pompidou, is set to open this June at the 63 Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Following the completion of construction in late February, the museum will undergo interior installation and final preparations before welcoming visitors starting June 4.
 
The Centre Pompidou, France’s national museum of modern and contemporary art and a multidisciplinary cultural complex, is widely known for its extensive collection, which includes major works by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, and Sonia Delaunay, representing both modernism and contemporary art.
 
Over the next four years, Centre Pompidou Hanwha will present two exhibitions annually based on the Pompidou’s world-renowned collection. In addition to these collection-based exhibitions, the museum will organize two to three original exhibitions each year focusing on Korean and global contemporary art, continuing to develop programs that connect international art historical narratives with contemporary discourse within a Korean cultural context.
 
While sharing the innovative DNA of the Centre Pompidou in France, Centre Pompidou Hanwha aspires to become a forward-looking museum that reinterprets its collection within Korea’s socio-cultural context. Beyond simply presenting works from the collection, it aims to expand into research, interpretation, and educational programs grounded in Korea–France collaborative curatorship.

It is expected to offer visitors a new experience of encountering world-class art collections, while providing the Korean art scene with an opportunity to further expand its curatorial research foundation and international networks.
 
The ‘Centre Pompidou Hanwha’ building has been fully remodeled from the former aquarium annex of the 63 Building and reborn as an art museum featuring two main exhibition halls, each spanning approximately 3,000 m². By boldly emptying out the existing structure, the architecture realizes the concept of a “box of light,” allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the space during the day and radiate outward into the city at night.
 
The exterior is characterized by a horizontal “band of light” that contrasts with the verticality of the 63 Building, as well as a semi-transparent double-glazed façade that evokes the curved lines of traditional Korean roof tiles. The design was led by the renowned French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, known for projects such as the renovation of the Louvre Museum, the Élysée Palace, and Incheon International Airport.

Opening Exhibition “The Cubists: Inventing Modern Vision”… Picasso’s Mercure Curtain Unveiled
 
Opening on June 4, 《The Cubists: Inventing Modern Vision》 focuses on Cubism, the artistic movement that marked a major turning point in 20th-century art. By spotlighting Cubism—which opened up a new way of seeing in modern art—the exhibition symbolizes a “new beginning” for Centre Pompidou Hanwha.
 
Notably, this exhibition is not a simple touring presentation of the Pompidou collection. It has been conceived through a collaborative Korean–French curatorial partnership and unfolds as a large-scale exhibition spanning approximately 1,000 pyeong across two galleries.
 
The exhibition features leading figures of Cubism, including Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Fernand Léger, Juan Gris, and Sonia & Robert Delaunay, alongside artists less frequently encountered in Korea, such as Albert Gleizes, Amédée Ozenfant, and Natalia Goncharova.
 
Rather than a straightforward presentation of famous names, the exhibition takes a more in-depth art historical approach, tracing the development of Cubism—from its origins to its expansion and international dissemination—within a chronological framework.
 
Comprising over 90 paintings and sculptures by around 40 artists, the exhibition is organized into eight sections and includes numerous rarely seen works that have not previously been shown in Korea. A particular highlight is the first-ever presentation in Korea of a large-scale ballet curtain created by Picasso himself, expected to draw significant attention.
 
The special section, “KOREA FOCUS,” reexamines the symbolic and cultural significance of Paris in the formation of modern Korean art in the early 20th century. By exploring the intersections between Western Cubism and various artistic fields in Korea at the time—including fine art, photography, literature, and dance—it sheds light on how post-Cubist avant-garde movements continued to influence modern and contemporary Korean art.

Following the Opening Exhibition “The Cubists,” from Chagall and Kandinsky to Matisse and Brancusi… A Four-Year Exhibition Roadmap
 
Following its opening, Centre Pompidou Hanwha plans to present a diverse range of exhibitions over the next four years, highlighting key currents of 20th-century modern art based on the Pompidou collection, while also reflecting the innovations of the avant-garde and the diversity of media and genres.
 
Beginning with Cubism, which introduced a new way of seeing in art, the program will continue through 2027 with exhibitions dedicated to major figures such as Marc Chagall, Wassily Kandinsky, and Henri Matisse and Fauvism. Thereafter, the museum will focus on Surrealism and abstract art, while also bringing renewed attention to women artists who have historically remained on the margins of art history.
 
A major exhibition on Constantin Brancusi, widely regarded as a pioneer of abstract sculpture, is also being planned as his first large-scale presentation in Korea. In addition, the museum will continue to offer high-quality exhibitions that combine iconic works from the Pompidou collection with in-depth interpretation, including early digital art that traces the origins of the 21st-century digital and AI revolution.

Building on this exhibition roadmap, Centre Pompidou Hanwha aims to serve as a cultural bridge connecting Korea, France, and the global art world, contributing to Seoul’s emergence as a key hub for contemporary art in Asia.
 
Laurent Le Bon, President of the Centre Pompidou, stated, “A museum is not defined solely by its building; rather, its essence lies in the spirit, values, and expertise it shares with the world. The opening of Centre Pompidou Hanwha marks an important milestone in our institution’s history and offers a meaningful opportunity to engage with Korea’s dynamic cultural landscape and new audiences.”
 
Lee Sungsoo, Chairman of the Hanwha Foundation of Culture, remarked, “Centre Pompidou Hanwha will be an open museum where art, technology, and the future intersect, offering new ways to experience world-class art collections within the fabric of everyday life in Seoul. Together with the foundation’s New York exhibition space, ‘Space ZeroOne,’ we will continue to open new horizons for Korean culture to connect with the world.”

References

• 한화문화재단 보도자료 (Hanwha Foundation of Culture Press Release)