Are you the sort who can’t resist a good exhibition, especially when it tickles more than just the eyes? If so, Seoul Frieze Week 2025 has something for the peepers. MCM unveiled a brand new artistic chapter that's as playful as it is thought-provoking courtesy of the creative sparks of Nobuki Hizume, Ken Yashiki and INDEN-YA.
Taking place at the MCM’s flagship in Seoul, the exhibition transformed the area into something that feels like a dreamscape. Where a magical playground brings out design, street culture and craftsmanship that imbue each floor with a completely different energy.
Your journey begins at the entrance with Nobuki Hizume’s impressionable display. Hizume, celebrated for his couture millinery, always had a knack for pushing the boundaries of what a hat can be. Here, he takes his skill and imagination a step further by placing avant-garde headwear on BE@RBRICK figures, transforming them into sculptural beings that demands the attention.
Climb up to the third floor and the mood shifts into something a little more intimate and poetic. Here, Ken Yashiki presents a BE@RBRICK that's inspired by his 2016 work PAUSE-Usa Usa. What makes this piece so moving is that it incorporates clothing once worn by his daughters. For Yashiki, this was the first time he had ever used garments with such personal history, and it marks a turning point in his artistic journey. Surrounded by a sea of cosmos flowers, the installation feels almost like a garden of remembrance.
The atmosphere changes once again at the fifth floor, this time grounding you in tradition while keeping a foot in the present. INDEN-YA, renowned for its centuries old Kōshū Inden craft, reimagines the BE@RBRICK through the lens of MCM’s iconic Visetos monogram. Using supple deerskin adorned with lacquer, the collaboration brings out a new take on heritage and modern artistry.
Undoubtedly, no exhibition would be complete without something to take away. The chef-d'oeuvre comes in the form of limited-edition BE@RBRICKs, giving visitors the chance to carry home a piece of this imaginative world. There will also be limited-edition MCM print T-shirts, nylon shoulder bags, and BE@RBRICK charms, each specially curated for the occasion. For fans of BE@RBRICK, MCM or simply those who love art; these editions are bound to be coveted treasures.
The exhibition is located at MCM HAUS, 412 Apgujeong-ro, Seoul. It runs until 30 September and is opened to the public daily from 11am to 8pm.
