Special thanks to Ms Michelle Choy (Teacher, GP Enrichment Committee In Charge, English Department, Tampines Meridian Junior College) for creating this trail while on the Teacher Work Attachment Programme at the Gallery.
Namjooning Virtual Tour
Embark on this wellness trail and explore artworks from the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery that are paired with BTS songs. Inspired by singer and rapper Kim Namjoon – also known as RM, the leader of K-pop supergroup BTS – “Namjooning” refers to the act of appreciating art, visiting museums, reading, communing with nature, and other forms of self-care. The themes of self-love and mental health awareness have been referenced in many of BTS’s songs.
Available in multiple languages: English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil, and Korean.
- When: Ongoing
- Where: Online exhibition
- Admission: Free
- Related tour: Slow Art self-guided tour
Explore the 360 experience
Featured artworks
Ship in Distress
Raden Saleh
1842. Oil on canvas laid down on board, 38 x 44 cm. Collection of National Gallery Singapore.
Ship in Distress
1842. Oil on canvas laid down on board, 38 x 44 cm. Collection of National Gallery Singapore.
Tea Drinkers
Anita Magsaysay-Ho
1957. Oil on canvas, 49.1 x 39.3 cm. Collection of National Gallery Singapore.
Tea Drinkers
1957. Oil on canvas, 49.1 x 39.3 cm. Collection of National Gallery Singapore.
The Mystical Reality
Sulaiman Esa
2016. Painted rattan cage and artificial rose, 90 x 57 x 57 cm. Collection of National Gallery Singapore. © Sulaiman Bin Esa.
The Mystical Reality
2016. Painted rattan cage and artificial rose, 90 x 57 x 57 cm. Collection of National Gallery Singapore. © Sulaiman Bin Esa.
Pair the artwork with a song
The painting depicts a ship caught in a violent storm, which appears to be powerless against the rocky waves.
While the fate of this ship is uncertain, the faint outline of another ship in the background suggests that rescue could be near. Are you navigating any storms in your life now? Is there something in your life that can act as your “anchor” despite the uncertainty you may feel?
Tea Drinkers, a painting by Filipino artist Anita Magsaysay-Ho, depicts two women drinking tea.
Tea is an important beverage in many cultures, and is often associated with both the act of spending time with others, as well as quiet contemplation.
The colours in the painting are cheerful and the brushstrokes are expressive. The painting conveys feelings of peace, relaxation and quiet contentment after a hard day's work.
What are some ways you can relax and de-stress after a hard day’s work?
Listen to the song: “Magic Shop” from the 2018 album, Love Yourself: Tear
Co-written and co-composed by BTS’s main vocalist Jungkook, “Magic Shop” was written with the aim of offering comfort and strength to their fans. The song describes the Magic Shop as a place of refuge for the lost, a place of healing for the heartbroken and a place of love for those who are lonely.
What does the birdcage symbolise?
It could symbolise how we might end up limiting and trapping ourselves by trying to live up to others’ expectations, or to even as a way to protect ourselves from things that we fear could hurt us.. What are some self-limiting beliefs or unhealthy expectations that you are holding on to?
Listen to the song: “Fake Love” from the 2018 album, Love Yourself: Tear
The song is about a person who “moulds a pretty lie” for their significant other by becoming a different, ideal version of themselves to please the other party.
However, in doing so, that person ends up feeling trapped in that same lie.