BTS captivates London as National Gallery touts RM's love of Turner

As BTS performs in London on Monday and Tuesday, the city's National Gallery has joined in the excitement, promoting itself by highlighting leader RM's admiration for the museum.

The National Gallery posted on its official social media accounts Monday, noting that "BTS's RM named Turner as his favorite artist" and sharing a photo of RM taken outside the gallery.

In a 2021 BBC interview, RM spoke about a past visit to the United Kingdom, saying he had seen paintings by his favorite artist. After visiting the National Gallery in person, he said: "My favorite painter is (Joseph Mallord) William Turner. I went to the National Gallery and there were so many of Turner's paintings. Seeing them in person felt like a dream come true."

The National Gallery holds a significant collection of works by Joseph Mallord William Turner. In its post, the gallery described his art as "like a widescreen painting — a master of light, weather and emotion," adding that decades before Impressionism emerged, Turner's art captured the light of the sun on canvas.

Online commenters responded enthusiastically. "RM has become one of the most influential young patrons in the art world," one wrote. Others added: "BTS is so much more than just a boy band," and "I went to the BTS concert — now I'm going to see Turner, one of my favorite painters."

Another commenter called RM "an influential art collector," saying his interests "have helped introduce many works of art to his fans, and his actions have promoted art and sparked interest in Turner, who is mentioned here."

BTS has received a warm welcome in the United Kingdom. The BBC covered the crowds greeting the group, declaring that "BTS is back in Britain."

One fan told the BBC she had traveled from New York for the concerts, while another said: "Everything about them transcends language and barriers."

The BBC, citing experts, projected that the world tour could generate $1 billion in revenue.

BTS is performing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London through Tuesday as part of its world tour "Arirang." Spanning 88 shows across 34 major cities worldwide, the tour is the largest ever mounted by a K-pop act on a single tour.