Noh So-young's Art Center Nabi Relocates to Sagan-dong, Opens New Exhibition

Art Center Nabi, a prominent digital media art institution directed by Noh So-young, has officially moved from the SK Group's Seorin Building to a new home in Sagan-dong, Seoul. This relocation marks a significant new chapter for the center, which has been at the forefront of integrating technology and art for the past 26 years.

To inaugurate its new space, Art Center Nabi will host its first special exhibition, 'Pause: A Pregnant Pause,' featuring the works of kinetic installation artist Han Jin-su. The exhibition, running from June 12 to August 1, delves into the concept of 'pause' as a necessary period for growth and reflection in today's fast-paced society. Visitors can expect to see Han Jin-su's dynamic art pieces, including 'Drawing Formation Machine,' which captures the trajectory of time through brushstrokes, 'White Pond,' observing traces appearing and disappearing on a white floor, and 'Flower of Uncertainty,' using soap bubbles to dissolve boundaries.

The move to Sagan-dong is particularly meaningful as it provides Art Center Nabi with an entire independent building dedicated to exhibitions. This autonomy grants the center full control over its spatial operations, enabling the creation of a unique, future-oriented cultural platform that connects digital media with the human body and time. Noh So-young, director of Art Center Nabi, expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "The present moment, as we organize the past 26 years and reopen in Sagan-dong, is when new futures are growing in unseen places." She believes Han Jin-su's exploration of the time it takes for things to mature between artificial machines and nature perfectly aligns with the museum's reopening.

This emphasis on 'waiting' and 'maturation' in the digital art world, a field often characterized by speed and technological prowess, offers a refreshing perspective. Art Center Nabi's declaration of intentionally slowing down to cultivate inner substance challenges the prevailing culture of instant consumption and prompts contemplation on the true vitality of technological media. The anticipation for the second act of Art Center Nabi in Sagan-dong, characterized by deliberate pacing and inner development, is palpable.

The relocation also carries implications related to the ongoing legal disputes between Noh So-young and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won concerning their divorce. SK had initiated a lawsuit to reclaim the Seorin Building space upon the expiration of the lease in September 2019. A Seoul Central District Court ruling in 2024 acknowledged Art Center Nabi's unauthorized occupation and ordered their eviction, along with a payment of over 1.04 billion won plus delayed damages. The center's decision to drop its appeal confirmed the necessity of the move.

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The present moment, as we organize the past 26 years and reopen in Sagan-dong, is when new futures are growing in unseen places. The worldview of artist Han Jin-su, who has dealt with the time it takes to slowly mature between artificial machines and nature, perfectly matches the moment of the museum's reopening.