Exhibition provides distinctive look at connection between life and art, featuring 300 pieces by 70 artists and designers

"Split House" in the "House of Taste: Art in Life, Life in Art" exhibition at D Museum, Seoul (Hong Yoo/ The Korea Herald)

Homes are evolving from mere spaces for daily living into personal exhibition spaces that reflect and showcase the tastes and identities of their residents.

Reflecting this concept, "House of Taste: Art in Life, Life in Art," invites visitors to explore a collection of over 300 artworks, including iconic pieces by renowned artists and designers such as Jean Prouve, Finn Juhl and Paul Henningsen, at D Museum in Seoul.

This exhibition seeks to reimagine everyday spaces through an artistic lens, aligning with the museum's vision of introducing unexpected moments of beauty into daily life. Instead of displaying art separately, it highlights the interaction between the artworks and their environments, providing visitors with an immersive, multidimensional experience.

Featuring the distinctive tastes of five imagined personalities, the exhibition presents how individuals express their tastes and identities through their personal collections, all within the context of their home environment. These imagined personalities include a tea sommelier, a film director, a plant expert, a chef and a gallery owner.

The first space, "Split House," showcases two contrasting tastes in one home. The house is divided into two sections: one belonging to a son in his 20s who is a film director with a keen interest in pop culture, and one to his mother in her 50s who is a tea sommelier collecting elegant artworks. The son’s side features works by young Japanese artists including Koichi Yairi, with a focus on animation and graphic styles, while the mother’s section is adorned with pieces by esteemed Korean artists such as Lee Seung-jio, Park Seo-bo and Kim Whanki.

"Terrace House" in the "House of Taste: Art in Life, Life in Art" exhibition at D Museum, Seoul (Hong Yoo/ The Korea Herald)

Next is the "Terrace House," where the home of a couple in their 30s, united by their shared interest in nature and health, is on display. Here, vibrant works by artists like Claude Viallat, Lee Kang-so and Frank Stella are featured. The terrace area also displays furniture and ceramics by the Romanelli couple, artists known for their furniture and object designs.

"Duplex House" in the "House of Taste: Art in Life, Life in Art" exhibition at D Museum, Seoul (D Museum)

The final "Duplex House" offers a bold, maximalist collection, imagined as the space of a gallery owner in his 40s who collects a wide range of works. The duplex features a variety of art, from Alexander Calder’s paper sculptures to Paik Nam-june’s media art, as well as large-scale sculptures by Javier Calleja. Furniture designed by Jean Prouve and Finn Juhl is also integrated into the space.

According to the Daelim Cultural Foundation, which operates the museum, the concept of visiting someone’s home to peek into their taste was born from previous exhibitions where furniture was arranged to make certain spaces appear like homes. The inclusion of different age groups as symbolic figures in the exhibition was also a deliberate choice.

“While Daelim Museum has long been seen as a place for the 20 to 30 age group, interest in art grew during the pandemic, attracting visitors of all ages. This exhibition was designed to cater to the tastes of visitors in their 30s to 50s as well,” said a representative from the foundation.

The exhibition runs until May 18.