Nexen Tire opens design gallery at Magok research center

Nexen Tire announced Monday that it has opened an exhibition space called the Nexen Design Gallery at The Nexen University, its central research institute in Magok, Seoul, converting the building's first-floor lobby into a multipurpose cultural venue open to the public.

The Nexen Design Gallery showcases both offline exhibitions and digital media art. The Nexen University serves as Nexen Tire's research and development hub and last year became the first facility in the domestic automotive industry to install a high dynamic driving simulator, cementing its role at the center of the company's tire development efforts. Nexen Tire said it is operating the lobby as an open space where local residents and visitors can freely come and go to view works on display.

The inaugural exhibition, titled "X SCENES," features 10 video works created by students from Chung-Ang University's schools of art engineering, design and global arts. The pieces, produced using generative AI, are being shown on a media wall in the first-floor lobby measuring 30 meters wide and 7 meters tall. The exhibition runs through Nov. 6, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

The "X" in the exhibition title draws from the letters of the brand name NEXEN. According to the company, Nexen's brand design incorporates purple to represent nobility and passion, a bilaterally symmetrical symbol expressing balance, progress and the trajectory of a tire, and connected typography conveying a sense of unity between customers and employees — all reflecting the company's philosophy of respecting life and its commitment to a high standard of craftsmanship.

"The central research institute took the lead in opening The Nexen University's space to the community and giving students an opportunity to showcase their work — that was the driving idea behind the Nexen Design Gallery," a Nexen Tire official said. "We plan to run it as a cultural space that anyone can visit comfortably through a variety of exhibitions, so artists and institutions interested in exhibiting are welcome to reach out at any time."

The official added that the gallery is intended to grow into an exhibition space spanning mobility, design and fine art, and that the company plans to regularly present mixed-format shows — including digital media art — through ongoing collaborations with artists, universities and other partners.

Meanwhile, Nexen Tire recently placed in the top 2 percent of all companies assessed worldwide in the 2026 ESG (environmental, social and governance) evaluation by EcoVadis, a global sustainability rating agency.