All Change Here

Art and music have always gone hand in hand over centuries, each directly influencing the other to create timeless masterpieces. Though most art school proprietors and traditionalists still talk of the connection between art and music in classical terms, the ever-growing audience for digital art with the turn of the decade cannot be overlooked, and digital artists are still finding innovative ways to incorporate music and sound into their work.

This interview shines the spotlight on the sizeable community of fan artists centred around the platinum-selling Korean band BTS (Bangtan Sonyeondan/Beyond The Scene), a subset of the fandom referred to affectionately by the members as ARMY (Adorable Representative MCs for Youth). BTS has never been shy about using high art as direct inspirations for their work: from the classical sculpture juxtapositions in the music video for 2016’s ‘Blood, Sweat and Tears’, to the concept art for their latest album, Map of the Soul:7, drawing from Western religious concepts such as fallen angels and the symbolism of fruit. Their leader, rapper-lyricist Kim Namjoon (stage name RM), also has a tendency to frequent museums and art galleries while on tour, even recently mentioning taking up a course in art theory.

BTS’ albums have each marked a pivotal shift in the band’s lyrical, creative and thematic output, from their gangsta-rap origins to youth cult classics, to the anthems of self-love that designated them official ambassadors with UNICEF in 2018. Map of the Soul:7 marks another such shift – to broader, more adult themes such as creative block and anxiety, the fear of failure as an artist, and togetherness in the face of adversity.

To Western media moguls whose expectation of the ‘K-Pop brand’ is bubblegum pop, this was a radical change. But to devoted ARMYs who have followed their trajectory from struggling underground artists to the global explosion of 2018’s Love Yourself records, this was a natural step forward, and a push for artistic expression. Take Map of the Soul:7’s lead single ‘Black Swan’; the song was released with an accompanying art film of contemporary dance, beginning with the quote:

 

‘A dancer dies twice – once when they stop dancing, and this first death is the more painful.’ – Martha Graham

 

The song then goes on to paraphrase it in its (unofficially translated from Korean) lyrics:

 

‘The heart no longer races/When hearing the music play/Seems like time has stopped/Oh that would be my first death, I’ve been always afraid of

If this can no longer resonate/No longer make my heart vibrate/Then this may be how I die my first death/But what if that moment’s right now, right now’

 

The volume and variety of creative output from fan-artists all over the world following the release of ‘Black Swan’, and subsequently the cathartic ‘Interlude: Shadow’ and celebratory ‘Outro: Ego’, was a testament to the way the band spoke directly to their fans while being themselves (unlike most K-pop acts, most of BTS’ songs are written by the members themselves). And to these artists, they helped shed light on their anxieties about making it big in the creative field. I asked the artists themselves for perspective on how BTS’ lyrics and beats had the power to drive brush to canvas, pencil to paper, and stylus to tablet…

 

Let’s talk BTS. How have the boys influenced your art and its process? Have you become more inspired after a certain performance of theirs?

Roshni, India: BTS has been an inspiration in so many ways it’s hard to pinpoint a specific one, but I’ll try. They pushed me to draw faces and human figures as I felt I could use them as reference without fear of failure. The broad range of messages in their music also serves as subject matter for my art.

 

Marshi, Canada: BTS became my muse after years of being stuck in art block, over which I’ve been through a lot. Ever since I became an ARMY in 2013, they’ve been a source of creativity and inspiration for me. When they said ‘even when I don’t have dreams, as long as I’m happy that’s enough’, it meant a lot to me, coming from an overbearing family telling me what to do with my career.

 

Mel, France: I was starting to get overwhelmed with work and wasn’t drawing anymore when ‘Interlude: Shadow’ (from MOTS:7) came out. It made me feel the urge to draw something again, and subsequently every other song on the album, especially ‘Black Swan’. I would say their darker themes inspire me more.

 

Sophie, Canada: I’ve been a fan of BTS since 2016, when I was starting to delve deeper into myself as an artist, and I think this influenced who I am as a person today. Perhaps I look into things too much, but the meaning behind many of BTS’ lyrics is inspiring not just for art, but self-betterment. They’re definitely prominent in my more serious works, specifically RM’s solo mixtape Mono. You can really feel RM pour his heart into every song on the mixtape, and I have a deep respect for him, since self-reflection is a common theme between these songs and my own art.

 

Rose, United States: I feel like listening to BTS’ music as I create art has influenced me wherein it pushes me to work harder, because their music always makes me feel more creative when I work. Their performances at the MAMA 2019 awards especially inspired me with the details in themes they created.

 

As an artist/creator, what in particular drew you to the band as an inspiration for your work?

Roshni, India: Two things – to be confident in your work, and to work dedicatedly regardless of validation. I think it’s these two things that set BTS apart from their peers, and they’re good practices to adopt for any creative, no matter the art form – painting, writing, dance.

 

Marshi, Canada: What drew me in was their messages in their songs throughout their eras, many of which hit close to what I was going through personally at the time with work and relationships. Being in the same age range as them, I found comfort in their assurance that I wasn’t alone.

 

Mel, France: The amount of meaning that goes behind their lyrics, and the world building behind the universe they create. There is so much depth in everything they do – you find something new every time you look. It’s amazing.

 

Sophie, Canada: Honestly, I’m not entirely sure why I take inspiration from BTS. My best guess is that my brain likes to relate things I like with other things I like, and so it was only natural that my art would take on inspiration from them and their music. Sometimes I like to sit down and doodle mindlessly while listening to their music, and unsurprisingly my doodles reflect the lyrics I’ve been listening to.

 

Rose, United States: Definitely their dancing, deep yet encouraging lyrics, and the continuity in the story they weave across all their music videos. Those inspire me to inject more creativity with each of my pieces.

 

What do you think is the most important message creatives can take away from Bangtan’s work?

Roshni, India: Going through their discography, several themes pop out at several points (eras in K-Pop speak) and each has a definitive message – youth, loving yourself, etc. But through it all the common thread to me is to do what you love above all else. It’s a reminder that we are ultimately solely responsible for our existences, and we must therefore do what we love out of respect for ourselves.

 

Marshi, Canada: What artists can take away besides their depth in lyrics, is that it’s okay to change and experiment with new things. That allows you to reflect on how far you’ve come, and have the strength to strive for improvement. With that said, it’s also okay to take a break sometimes and not feel bad about it. It’s good to love yourself.

 

Mel, France: What’s important is not what people think of you but what you think of yourself. And your passion can come and go but it is still part of you, even if it hurts sometimes. It’s part of what makes you ‘you’.

 

Sophie, Canada: Personally, one of my favourite BTS messages is their more recent concept of loving yourself, with three albums dedicated to this theme. It holds a special place in my heart because it was something I was unable to do for a long time. I think a lot of artists are very hard on themselves, with a tendency to push themselves, and I think it’s important the community remembers that loving and taking care of themselves should come first.

 

Rose, United States: The story of how they got to where they are after coming from nothing, and how the many obstacles in their way didn’t stop them. They kept working hard against industry prejudices, but didn’t let it detract from their kindness and humility. As a creator, you will face those struggles, but you must keep going.

 

Last question, rapid fire: your favourite BTS song associated with a piece you’ve done.

Roshni, India: Mostly because it’s recent – ‘Black Swan’. The song itself is so unique, riveting, masterfully arranged and personal. Naturally, it translates well on canvas, and my piece (featured here) was based on their fallen angel/fallen artist concept.

 

Marshi, Canada: There were many, but my work based on ‘Scenery’ stands out the most, which featured (vocalist Kim) Taehyung (stage name V) painting the view outside a window. It may not be exactly what the lyrics represent, but throughout the process, I was at peace with myself and my work.

 

Mel, France: My favourite would be the artwork I did for ‘Interlude: Shadow’. In the song, (Min) Yoongi (stage name SUGA) raps about being caught between the desire for fame as an artist and the fear of being lonely at the top, and the contrasting shades I worked into the piece evocates this struggle perfectly.

 

Sophie, Canada: I refuse to choose a favourite. My top three, in no particular order, are ‘Ddaeng’, ‘Mikrokosmos’, and ‘Dionysus’, all of which have resulted in some pretty sick dragon-themed art – it’s even earned me the nickname of Dragon Girl.

 

Rose, United States: I don’t necessarily have a favourite work directly based on a song, but I gave myself an art challenge where I decided to create an abstract piece listening to only one song, and chose ‘Mic Drop’. That song altered the colours and brush strokes I used. Another one I created using ‘Interlude: Shadow’. This song comforted me and gave me courage during a rough time. I really connected with the words and message of facing my shadow, and not letting it defeat me.

 

A final question, for the interviewer: what about writing?

While it’s commonplace for artists to use music as a background setting for their work, it does not always produce the same effect for writers, myself included, where the lyrics might detract from the writer’s own voice penning down the material they need. But I cannot deny BTS struck a personal chord when it came to the writing process, and my dreams and aspirations as a writer, since their lyrics reflect their own trains of thought as creators. In particular, I drift to these raps SUGA writes as part of his interlude with Halsey (a collaboration on her album Manic):

(unofficial Korean translation)

‘This wandering with only blue in my head/self-loathing and pride in my heart/I was full of dreams, then grew and made all of them true/Yet maybe it’s better keeping dreams as dreams…

…Your conviction, efforts, faith, greed/They are not ugly, I believe it/The dawn before sunrise is the darkest one/But never forget the stars you hope for only appear in the dark’

 

It’s what makes BTS stand out among most K-pop acts and why they’ve achieved the kind of success they have: they identify as artists first, and artistes second. In their sound, they do not undercut their humble beginnings, as ugly as they seem next to the image expected of them; and it’s a lesson I try to incorporate in my writing, and what every artist featured here would agree with. That as a creator, your best work comes from when you aim for the sky, while keeping your feet close to the ground.