What if a Korean painter who died in 2007 helped change the way BTS leader RM thinks about making music?
For RM, art has never been just an expensive hobby. His fascination with Korean painter Yun Hyong-keun became a source of inspiration for his 2022 solo album Indigo.
And the connection goes much deeper than an album cover.
The Painter Who Changed RM’s Perspective
RM began seriously visiting art exhibitions around late 2018. As he started developing Indigo in 2019, his growing interest in painting naturally intersected with his music.
One artist stood out: Yun Hyong-keun.
Yun endured war, political persecution, and imprisonment. Yet his paintings expressed remarkable restraint through simple forms and deep colors.
RM admired not only Yun’s paintings but also his philosophy of being a good human being before becoming an artist.
That idea became central to Indigo.
Why the First Song Is Called “Yun”
The album opens with “Yun,” featuring Erykah Badu.
The title directly references Yun Hyong-keun, while the song explores artistic identity, personal values, and the pressure to follow trends.
RM explained that he wanted Badu’s soulful voice to communicate the painter’s philosophy.
Rather than chasing temporary popularity, the song questions what it means to create something meaningful.
For RM, Yun’s life offered an alternative way to think about success.
Even the Color Indigo Has Meaning
Yun used deep blue pigments in his earlier paintings, and RM has described indigo as one of his favorite colors.
The album’s visual identity also incorporates Yun’s artwork.
This is one of the clearest connections between RM’s music and painting: color becomes part of the album’s emotional language.
Indigo isn’t simply a collection of songs. It presents a personal portrait of RM’s twenties.
From Fireworks to Wildflowers
The influence becomes especially interesting in “Wild Flower,” featuring Youjeen.
RM once imagined success as fireworks: brilliant, spectacular, and impossible to ignore.
But after encountering Yun’s work, he began questioning that ambition.
He wanted something more enduring.
The wildflower became a metaphor for remaining grounded in his identity rather than disappearing after a brief moment of fame.
RM discussed this change directly in interviews about Indigo.
That makes the relationship between painting and songwriting more than a fan theory.
Can Art Influence Music Without Appearing in the Lyrics?
Not every song needs to reference a painting to be influenced by visual art.
For RM, encountering another artist’s life and philosophy helped him reconsider his own creative priorities.
That influence can be heard in the questions running through Indigo: Who am I beyond fame? What should remain after success fades? What kind of artist do I want to become?
These are thematic connections, not proof that every lyric was inspired by a particular artwork.
The Connection Continues in San Francisco
On October 3, 2026, RM’s personal art collection opens to the public at SFMOMA in the exhibition RM x SFMOMA: Between You and Me.
Yun Hyong-keun is among the featured artists.
Visitors can now explore the visual world that helped shape RM’s thinking while creating Indigo.
RM’s story reveals something fascinating: sometimes the greatest influence on a songwriter doesn’t come from another musician. It comes from a painting — and the life of the person who created it.