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Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief of My Modern Met @mymodernmet @mymodernmetstore @mymodernacademy Searching for the meaning behind art
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My name is Eugene Kim (@meaningbehindart) and I’m the Co-founder & Editor-in-chief of My Modern Met (@mymodernmet), an art+culture website that started in 2008. We reach millions of people every month and feature articles on art, design, photography, architecture, science, history, and the environment. We’ve published over thirty thousand articles with the intent to create a positive culture online, and after our Co-founder and my dear older sister Alice Yoo left the company in 2017, I have curated or approved almost every article on our site.
Along with my incredible team, we’ve had the honor to work with and interview countless contemporary artists and, often times, their work is more powerful than words could ever be.
I’ve dedicated my life’s work to supporting the creative community and now, in the age of rapidly advancing AI, I’m more determined than ever to preserve human originality and creativity. Nothing can ever replace human creativity.
My aim is to spotlight the very best of humanity, highlighting ordinary people doing extraordinary things. My hope is that it will inspire others to do the same. We celebrate diversity and inclusivity because we believe the most beautiful fabric includes us all.
In challenging times, the world can feel heavy. And that’s ok. But I would tell everyone to believe in yourself, encourage you to keep creating, and be the positive change you want to see in this world.
@mymodernmet @meaningbehindart #mymodernmet #art #design #photography #architecture #science #history #environment #technology #ai
31 Jul 2025
Honored to speak on a panel at the Raptive Luminary Conference on my birthday in Charleston, South Carolina.
I’ve been attending this conference representing My Modern Met for many years, since the very beginning, and have been grateful to befriend so many incredible publishers and amazing Raptive team members along the way.
Digital media is a fast-changing landscape, and I feel fortunate to navigate through it alongside the very best minds in the industry.
Photos: Raptive. June 9, 2026.
@meaningbehindart @mymodernmet @weareraptive #art #science #culture #internet #independentpublishing
29 Jun 2026
This week brought welcome news that Do Ho Suh’s exhibition I dream in another language will open at the Guggenheim in New York on February 19, 2027.
On September 3, 2026, during Seoul Art Week, I had the privilege of seeing Suh’s exhibition at MMCA Seoul. The scale of his work is impressive in person. A life-size section of his childhood home fills the gallery, yet the Korean paper is remarkably delicate. Seeing his early drawings alongside works like this gave me a sense of how much of his own life he shares through his art.
Walking through Nest/s was another highlight. The installation stretches nearly 71 feet, with one brightly colored fabric passage opening into the next. I found myself slowing down to look at the sewn latticework.
I got down on the ground to photograph Floor at eye level with the tiny, toy-like figures holding up the glass. What surprised me most was how much detail was hiding in the gallery walls. I could barely make out the tiny faces until I looked through my camera. See if you can spot them in the video.
On view at MMCA Seoul through February 9, 2027.
Photos and videos by Eugene Kim, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of My Modern Met.
@dohosuhstudio @mmcakorea @mymodernmet @meaningbehindart #dohosuh #mmcaseoul #seoulartweek #installationart #mymodernmet
13 Nov 2026
There’s so much character in the Americana Suite at The Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. The living room opens right into the dining area, with a little kitchen tucked off to the side. The mid-century modern furniture was a highlight for me, especially the black leather Eames-style lounge chair and matching ottoman. Between the turntable, the records, and Regine Mahaux’s black-and-white photos from her 1979 road trip across America, I could have spent many days and nights in that room.
Outside, I was amazed at how far the balcony ran, all the way from the living room to the bedroom before wrapping around the corner. It was late October, and the leaves on a tree just below me were changing color. From up there, the view of the Potomac River was gorgeous.
The bedroom had room for a desk and a curved golden sofa by the windows, and there was ample space to work or put my feet up. In the primary bath, I loved how neatly the soaking tub fit beneath the window. I also appreciated having a separate guest bathroom just off the living area.
Downstairs at The Next Whisky Bar, the bright red chairs popped against the glowing wall of bottles. In the lobby, light reflected off gleaming columns and a black grand piano.
I remember learning about the Watergate scandal growing up. On June 17, 1972, five men were caught inside the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex’s office building. According to the hotel’s history, Room 214 served as a base for the operation. The ensuing cover-up ultimately led to President Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974. Years after learning about that moment in U.S. history, I found it fascinating to stay at the hotel and thoroughly enjoyed my experience.
📍 2650 Virginia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20037
📸 Review and photos by Eugene Kim – Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief, My Modern Met
@watergatehotel @visitwashingtondc @destinationdc @mymodernmet @meaningbehindart #americanasuite #experiencewatergate #only1dc #mymodernmet #meetbehindtheart
12 Nov 2026
Why is a London dining room decorated by an American artist inside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art?
The answer starts with the porcelain. Architect Thomas Jeckyll designed the latticework shelves to display British shipping magnate Frederick Leyland’s blue-and-white Chinese porcelain. In 1876–77, James McNeill Whistler drew inspiration from Chinese ceramics and Japanese textiles, carrying peacock motifs from the shutters to the ceiling in blue, green, and gold. He called the finished room Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room.
Look for the two peacocks facing off. After a quarrel over the decoration and his fee, Whistler painted himself and Leyland as dueling birds. The silver coins at the feet of Leyland’s peacock point to the dispute, and the silver crest on Whistler’s bird echoes his own white lock of hair. He titled the mural Art and Money; or, The Story of the Room.
American collector Charles Lang Freer bought the room in 1904, had it reassembled in his Detroit home, and displayed his own Asian ceramics on its shelves. His collection of Asian and American art became the foundation of the Freer Gallery of Art, now part of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art. The room first went on public display in Washington, D.C., when the Freer Gallery opened in 1923. You’ll find it in Gallery 12.
Filmed in the Peacock Room on October 29, 2026, by Eugene Kim, co-founder and editor-in-chief of My Modern Met.
@natasianart @smithsonian @visitwashingtondc @destinationdc @mymodernmet @meaningbehindart #peacockroom #jamesmcneillwhistler #only1dc #mymodernmet #meaningbehindart
11 Nov 2026
National Geographic Museum of Exploration brings the ocean to life in Washington, D.C.
Wonders of Our World: Ocean transforms the courtyard into an underwater adventure through vivid projections, music, and interactive media. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the museum come alive after dark. This 17-minute outdoor show is worth experiencing in person for both adults and kids.
🎥 Filmed on October 30, 2026, by Eugene Kim, co-founder and editor-in-chief of My Modern Met.
📍 1600 M Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
@natgeo @natgeomuseum @mymodernmet @meaningbehindart @visitwashingtondc @destinationdc #nationalgeographic #mymodernmet #visitwashingtondc #museumofexploration #only1dc
10 Nov 2026
On October 30, 2026, National Geographic hosted its first-ever Explorers Table at the National Geographic Museum of Exploration in Washington, D.C., and I had the honor and privilege of being there.
The main highlight was hearing from the people behind the experience: National Geographic Explorer at Large and bat conservationist Dr. Rodrigo Medellín, award-winning Chef Christian Irabién, and restaurateur and tequila specialist David Suro-Piñera.
Together, they connected the food on our plates with the wildlife and ecosystems that help make it possible. We learned how nectar-feeding bats pollinate agave, supporting the genetic diversity of the plants used to make mezcal and tequila, while the chef shared the ingredients and preparation behind each course. Hearing their perspectives together gave me a deeper appreciation for where our food comes from and how much depends on the natural world.
Sharing the evening with the people at my table made it even more memorable.
During my visit, I also enjoyed exploring the Museum of Exploration, especially Joel Sartore’s Photo Ark: Animals of Earth exhibition, and watching Wonders of Our World: Ocean, the immersive outdoor nighttime experience. It was a pleasure to meet the team and interview Emily Dunham, Chief Campus & Experiences Officer at the National Geographic Society.
A big thank-you to the National Geographic team and Visit Washington, D.C. for arranging such a thoughtful visit. I’m very grateful to have experienced it.
@natgeo @natgeomuseum @mymodernmet @meaningbehindart @visitwashingtondc @destinationdc #nationalgeographic #explorerstable #mymodernmet #meaningbehindart #only1dc
10 Nov 2026
LACMA’s Art+Film Gala on November 7, 2026, was a star-studded affair where art, film, and incredible style came together against the glow of Chris Burden’s iconic Urban Light.
Presented by Gucci, the 15th annual gala honored artist Vija Celmins and filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, with musical guest Rosé performing during the evening. The event raised nearly $7 million to support LACMA’s film initiatives and museum programming.
We received these striking portraits from LACMA today, featuring Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Emily Ratajkowski, Candice Swanepoel, Monica Barbaro, Kylie Jenner, Lindsey Vonn, Olivia Munn, Alix Earle, Anderson .Paak, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jason Wu and Adeline Rudolph, Quenlin Blackwell, Alex Consani, Sofía Vergara, Elsa Hosk, Nicole Kidman, Julia Garner, Salma Hayek, Chloe Kim, and LACMA CEO Michael Govan.
📸 Getty Images for LACMA
@lacma @gucci @mymodernmet @meaningbehindart #lacma #gucci #mymodernmet #artandfilmgala #celebritystyle
08 Nov 2026
Curator Marina Isgro spoke with My Modern Met about the newly reimagined garden at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and its vision for bringing modern and contemporary art together on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
In an interview with My Modern Met Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief Eugene Kim, Isgro explains how the garden connects its celebrated bronze collection with new commissions and spaces for live performance, music, and dance.
The Hirshhorn is the Smithsonian’s national museum of modern and contemporary art. Its 1.3-acre Sculpture Garden reopened on October 31, 2026, following a four-year transformation led by artist and architect Hiroshi Sugimoto. The redesign restores the underground passage connecting the garden to the museum plaza, expands entrances from two to five, and increases the number of artworks on view across the campus from 35 to nearly 60.
Works by Auguste Rodin, Barbara Hepworth, and Henry Moore share the garden with contemporary art by Izumi Katō, Elmgreen & Dragset, Yoshitomo Nara, Chatchai Puipia, KAWS, and others.
“The garden is designed for the 21st century,” says Hirshhorn Acting Director Aaron Seeto, “offering a dynamic setting for art and public programming that can continue to evolve with our collection and audiences.”
Filmed at a media event at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., on October 29, 2026, before the garden’s reopening.
Interviewed and filmed by Eugene Kim / My Modern Met.
@hirshhorn @smithsonian @visitwashingtondc @destinationdc @mymodernmet @meaningbehindart #hirshhorn #sculpturegarden #sculpture #contemporaryart #washingtondc
03 Nov 2026
A First Look at the Reimagined Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden
On October 29, I attended the press preview in Washington, D.C., ahead of the garden’s public reopening on October 31. I loved exploring the space and discovering how art, architecture, and landscape come together.
Reimagined by Japanese artist and architect Hiroshi Sugimoto, the 1.3-acre garden brings contemporary sculpture into conversation with longtime favorites from the Hirshhorn’s collection. Across the garden and museum plaza, nearly 60 artworks are on view, up from 35 before the renovation.
This carousel features works by Yoshitomo Nara, Lauren Halsey, Raven Halfmoon, Auguste Rodin, Henri Matisse, Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, and more. It was wonderful to discover new pieces alongside works that have long been part of the collection.
The expanded reflecting pool was a highlight for me, along with Sugimoto’s “Passage of Reflectance,” a mirrored installation that transforms the reopened underground walkway between the garden and museum plaza into an art experience of its own.
I’m also excited about the possibilities for performances, talks, and public programs. A portion of the reflecting pool can even be drained to reveal additional tiered seating for performances.
Thank you to the Hirshhorn and Smithsonian teams for welcoming us. I also had the opportunity to interview Marina C. Isgro, and I’ll be sharing our conversation soon.
If you’re in Washington, D.C., take some time to explore. It’s a beautiful place to slow down and spend time with art. Admission is free.
Photos by Eugene Kim, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of My Modern Met.
@hirshhorn @smithsonian @mymodernmet @meaningbehindart
#hirshhorn #hiroshisugimoto #sculpture #contemporaryart #washingtondc
29 Oct 2026
These characters caught my attention right away. The same figure appears in scene after scene, each one like another chapter in his life. His contemplative expression stays the same, while his colorful clothes, activities, and companions change. Sometimes he is alone. Other times, he is with a dog or partner. Together, the sculptures feel like a life story unfolding one scene at a time.
South Korean sculptor Kim Won Geun is known for Sunjeongnam, presented in English as Pure Man, a tough-looking Korean everyman who is, at heart, a tender romantic longing to love and be loved.
This video was recorded at Kiaf SEOUL during Seoul Art Week on September 2, 2026, by Eugene Kim, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of My Modern Met. The works were presented by Lucie Chang Fine Arts.
@sculpture_kimwongeun_ @lucie_chang_fine_arts @kiaf_official @mymodernmet @meaningbehindart #kimwongeun #luciechangfinearts #kiafseoul #mymodernmet #meaningbehindart
26 Oct 2026
One of the most delicious tasting menus I’ve ever had.
Dinner at Yu Ting Yuan in the Four Seasons Bangkok was a truly memorable Cantonese dining experience.
What stayed with me most was the thoughtfulness behind the meal: the preparation, the presentation, and the care in its execution. From the double-boiled abalone soup and deep-fried crab meat in a crab shell to the Australian M9 wagyu beef, there was so much to love in the flavors and textures. I especially enjoyed the depth of umami that made so many of the savory dishes deeply satisfying.
The waiter was excellent, presenting and explaining each dish as it arrived. His explanations offered insight into the chef’s techniques and the time, effort, and thought that went into each course.
Swipe through for a look at the seven courses of a meal I’ll be dreaming about.
@fourseasons @fsbangkok @yutingyuanbkk @mymodernmet @meaningbehindart #yutingyuanbkk #bangkokfoodie #bangkokfinedining #tastingmenu #cantonesecuisine
21 Oct 2026
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