The artist has been working with the K-pop boy group since 2021.
Earlier this month, HYBE INSIGHT announced that the BTS x James Jean: Seven Phases Exhibition will be coming to Manila.
“This unique exhibition will take you on a journey through artistry, creativity, and the world of BTS through the beautiful collaboration between the GRAMMY-nominated pop icon BTS and the renowned artist James Jean.”
The exhibit will run from October 27 to December 3, 2023 at the fourth floor of Building A, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.
About the artist
James Jean is a Taiwanese-American visual artist based in Los Angeles. He has worked with publications such as Time Magazine, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone. He has also garnered several Eisner Awards for his work with DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Fables, and The Umbrella Academy.
His work with Prada began in 2007, when he created a mural for the brand’s Epicenter stores in New York and Los Angeles. Jean reunited with the luxury brand in 2018, creating prints for its Resort 2018 collection. This collaboration brought graphic novel-inspired art to high-fashion pieces.
The collaboration with BTS
In 2021, he launched the Seven Phases exhibit to celebrate the opening of HYBE Insight Museum in Seoul. The exhibit is described as a “once in a lifetime look into the seven members of BTS, reimagined by James Jean’s fantastical and dreamlike interpretations.”
“Due to COVID travel restrictions, it was difficult for BTS fans from all over the world to see these new paintings inspired by each member of the band. Today, I’m happy to announce that Seven Phases will be embarking on a world tour,” Jean wrote in an Instagram post.
BTS’ leader RM has also been a longtime supporter of the artist, from posting Jean’s pieces on his social media to writing a thoughtful passage about his work for an exhibit in Shanghai.
“There are numerous artists and conversations about Western and Eastern harmony but I think James Jean is one of them who truly shows it to the world,” RM said in the write-up.
“From toys to murals, he’s one who succeeded in making his own fascinating universe, in this era of narrative and story.”
The Seven Phases exhibition’s global tour began in Frankfurt, Germany in June 2023. Manila, Philippines will be its second stop.
Banner image via X @JamesJeanArt.
