The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) presents Art Party, a celebration of the pieces in the new “Korea in Color: A Legacy of Auspicious Images,” exhibition running from Oct. 28, 2023 to March 3, 2024.

In a bid to bring elements of classic and modern art together, the event showcased a variety of performances, including San Diego State’s own K-pop dance group, which was formed from the first ever K-pop university class, Dance 383. 

The opening of the new exhibit gave a space to appreciate the complexity and nuances of Korean art, with guest speakers who came to America to share Korea’s important artistic contributions. “Korea in Color” brings the auspicious practices and generational myths to San Diego. 

The gallery begins with a plaque inscribed with the message “upon entering the gallery, visitors are invited to imagine that they are passing through the gate of a traditional Korean house, guarded by a range of beasts, including tigers, dogs and even mythical dragons.”

From there, the walk through transports visitors across the world through time with Korean art dating back to the 17th century. 

Striking images of animals, beautiful landscapes and traditional pottery were among the stunning visuals. The art itself is breathtaking, but the SDMA’s use of space and placement incredibly recreates the feeling of being in a traditional Korean home.

The gallery walk was soundtracked by a dynamic mix of K-pop hits and the ‘90s R&B that inspired them, courtesy of Los Angeles based DJ KSLY, a Korean-American DJ, who has been working since the 1990’s.

Guests were given a wide array of food from local vendors, including a delicious seaweed- kimchi mix from Woomiok and unforgettable bahn mi from Wild Thyme Catering Company. 

The small plates paired — with the selection of signature cocktails from both local and Korean brands — along with a selection of iced teas, coffee and boba, kept guests coming back for more, with lines forming quickly after the event started.

The event featured plenty of interactive activities, including K-pop glitter eye makeup by GLMR and a Sweet Art Cotton candy machine, as well as photo booths and free-play Dance Dance Revolution machines. 

SDMA offered a seemingly endless slate of events and attractions, with a large part of the event’s outdoor area being a dedicated space for guests to make their own art reminiscent of the landscapes in the exhibit. With the various amenities and activities, SDMA delivered a truly memorable experience throughout the entire night.

For many, the highlight of the night was a performance by SDSU’s Dance 383 students, which took place on the front steps of the museum.

After an introduction from professor Chuyun Oh, the students took to the stage dancing to  a mix of K-pop songs that captivated the crowd.

Even those unfamiliar with the music and choreography cheered on. The dancers were electrifying, with all the talent and charisma of seasoned K-pop idols. By the end of the performance, event guests who came to celebrate the classic art of Korea were excited to learn moves from the students.

Oh — known affectionately as Dr. Oh by her students — was enthusiastic to discuss the accomplishments of those in her class. Fresh off of a September performance at Gallagher Square for the Padre’s Korean Heritage night, the students gave a stunning performance as  Oh beamed from the crowd.

“I’m honored to form the first K-pop dance class at San Diego State University thanks to the support of our school,” Oh said. “We are interested in supporting diversity and also supporting what students are interested in, which includes pop culture.”

As a former professional ballet and modern dancer,  Oh has a deep passion for supporting students’ expression through K-pop dance. She created a space for students with different passions and majors to explore dance.

“Only one of (Dance 383) is a dance major,”  Oh said. “(Other students) study business, psychology, communication and other fields.”

Dance 383, is a first-of-its-kind general education history class that explores K-pop as a cultural phenomenon and an art form. 

The class is theory and lecture-based, but students have voluntarily formed a dance crew based on their love for K-pop. Without K-pop,  Oh believes the options to explore dance as a student are much more limited.

“Otherwise, what would they do?” Oh asked about a world without accessibility to K-pop dance. “Ballet? It’s not necessarily accessible. So I think, in addition to hip-hop, K-pop is one of the platforms (where) they can share their talent and even their voice.”

The performance was such an impactful part of the night because it gave a platform to appreciate K-pop at an event celebrating the beauty and impact of Korean art. 

K-pop is often acknowledged as a cultural sensation, but San Diego Museum of Art gave Oh and her students the chance to showcase their artistry for an art form that is both popular and widely accessible.

“I was a professional dancer and choreographer but what’s exciting about K-pop is that you don’t have to choreograph,” Oh said. “There are a lot of music videos, let’s say BTS choreography, that is so stunning to watch, and that’s why a lot of students, even if they’re not a dance major, are able to perform.”

The choreography of K-pop is masterful, yet easy for students with no dance background to learn and execute. The performance showcased the cultural and artistic diversity of San Diego.

“I love San Diego State University, especially the ways we celebrate diversity,” Oh said. “We have the first Latin American female president, and also we have a national champion cheerleader, and also we have a lot of dance teams including hip hop and Vietnamese students’ modern dance club. So, I really appreciate the environment that is welcoming.”   

She posits “K-pop dance as a Sanctuary for American Youth.” K-pop dance is an outlet of self-expression that resonates with many people, which is especially appealing to college students who need relief from the stress of everyday life. With a Ph.D in performance studies, Oh’s class examines K-pop through an academic lens while allowing students to.

As K-pop continues to grow across the world, the performance at the Art Party event was a reminder of the importance of pop culture as a form of cultural expression.

“The San Diego Museum of Art asked me to bring my students because they already performed at San Diego Padres, so they are quite well known in our community,” Oh said. “K-pop is giving them a great opportunity to perform onstage.” 

The event successfully showcased Korean culture in San Diego, celebrating the diversity of the city through art and community. 

With a mix of classical art and pop culture, Art Party truly encapsulated the importance of showcasing art from all over the world, especially the dynamic contributions of Korean artists.