Hyundai Motor Holds Third "Hyundai Terrace Commission" with Whitney Museum in New York

Kelly Akashi Participates
Exploring the Finitude of Life and Existence

Hyundai Motor Company announced on March 4 that, as part of its long-term partnership with the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, it will be holding its third exhibition, the "Hyundai Terrace Commission: Kelly Akashi," from March 8 to 23 (local time).

'Hyundai Terrace Commission: Kelly Akashi' Exhibition View. Photo by Timothy Schenck

Since 2024, Hyundai Motor Company and the Whitney Museum have been showcasing large-scale installation works in various genres—including sculpture and multimedia—at the museum’s fifth-floor outdoor terrace exhibition space, providing artists and curators with opportunities for creative experimentation.

The third featured artist, Kelly Akashi, was born in the United States in 1983 and is currently based in Los Angeles. She is known for works that explore the finitude of life and existence, primarily using materials such as glass, bronze, and stone. In this exhibition, Akashi presents new installations, sculptures, and animations rooted in personal experience.

The exhibition centers around "Monument" (2026), a work in which the artist reconstructs, using glass bricks, the chimney and the path leading to it—the only parts that remained after her home and studio in northern Los Angeles were destroyed by a wildfire in January of last year. The museum's fifth-floor terrace is transformed into a space for contemplation that remembers the traces of the fire, encouraging visitors to deeply reflect on survival, loss, and the imperfection of what is left behind.

Akashi explained, "Rebuilding is not simply about restoration, but is a labor of care and a practical act symbolizing dialogue with history. The process of stacking each brick reflects the act of remembering itself; memories regain meaning through constant attention and patience." She added, "Each brick contains a record of the work and transformation it has undergone, and together, they form a new existence that holds traces of the past."

Marcella Guerrero, curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art, said, "Kelly Akashi skillfully handles diverse materials such as glass and steel, harmoniously achieving the conceptual and technical mastery essential to large-scale outdoor sculpture. This new work will establish itself as a monumental piece that addresses memory and heritage, encompassing both individual and collective histories."

A Hyundai Motor Company representative stated, "We hope this exhibition, which aligns with the goals of the 'Hyundai Terrace Commission' to inspire a broader audience through art, will provide an opportunity to reconsider the relationship between individuals and the community, and to explore the potential for genuine solidarity."

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor Company continues its partnerships with the Tate in the United Kingdom and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in the United States. Recently, through a new partnership—the "Hyundai Translocal Series"—aimed at revitalizing regional art museums in Korea, the company is striving for the sustainable development of the arts ecosystem and the expansion of the cultural and artistic sector.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.