The popular seven-member band is celebrating its ninth anniversary, as well as the anniversary of its devoted ARMY fanbase, with a Google collaboration that shares band members' favorite pieces of art. The new BTS x Street Galleries street view experiment is available on Google's Arts & Culture platform and takes viewers on a virtual tour of the art, which includes 14 iconic locations curated by the supergroup.
Each member of the band has chosen his or her own virtual gallery, which syncs with recognizable BTS locations, such as J-choice, Hope's the United Nations in New York. It's where the band accompanied South Korean President Moon Jae-in for a speech in September 2021 and where the music video for "Permission to Dance" was shot.
Namdaemun, Seoul, is RM's location, and he says it's "special to me because our group kicked off a global concert here back in 2021," referring to the 2021 Global Citizen Live Festival. "It is also a treasured Korean historical monument," he added. RM, a 27-year-old art collector, was interviewed on a recent Art Basel podcast about his passion for art. Paintings by one of RM's favorite artists, J.M.W. Turner, decorate the landscape in his street view, including the artist's Venice, From the Porch of Madonna Della Salute, and The Lake of Zug.
Jungkook also chose Seoul as a noteworthy destination, highlighting the Chunggu Building in particular. "Since our debut in 2013, this building has felt like a second home to us." "We've come a long way since then," the 24-year-old "Left and Right" musician wrote. "My creativity has found different ways to express itself and reach the audience over the years — I guess you could call me a modern Renaissance man."
BTS x Street Galleries credit: Google
Jin chose So Paolo, which he described as "one of BTS's favorite cities" because of its "positive energy." "Whenever I'm feeling down, I just think of So Paulo," Jin wrote. Suga chose the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, where the group's "dream of international recognition began," while V chose London for its "moody and picturesque streets."
BTS x Street Galleries credit: Google
Jimin chose Singapore and recalled performing at the Singapore National Stadium in 2019 as part of the "Butter" group's Love Yourself World Tour. "I remember our 'Love Yourself' concert in Singapore like it was yesterday," wrote the 26-year-old singer.
The Google project represents a new chapter for BTS, which stated last month that they were not going on hiatus and would instead pursue both group and solo projects. In June, the band announced a temporary hiatus at its annual FESTA dinner to commemorate nine years as a band.
Jean Dubreil