From March 29 to April 21, the K Museum of Contemporary Art hosted a special exhibition, MINI HERITAGE & BEYOND, offering visitors a ride through MINI’s rich past, dynamic present, and visionary future. The exhibition also showcased the cutting-edge technology of Samsung Display's automotive OLED displays, seamlessly integrated into the new MINI. The fusion of innovation and tradition sparked excitement, propelling the MINI experience into the fast lane of tomorrow with Samsung Display’s breakthroughs. Now, let’s zoom in on the exhibition where Samsung Display’s innovation meets THE NEW MINI FAMILY.
From an icon of its time to an icon of the future, what does the future of automobiles hold for MINI?
The exhibition was organized into three distinct spaces: the HERITAGE ZONE, CURRENT GEN ZONE, and BEYOND ZONE, each offering a look into MINI’s evolution from the past, present, and the future. Visitors were able to immerse themselves in MINI’s rich history, explore the sleek interiors of the cars, and participate in the docent program, which provided a firsthand experience of MINI’s captivating charm across generations.
As you step into the exhibition, your journey begins in the HERITAGE ZONE, where you’ll find the classic and authentic character of MINI. What are some of the first images that you think of when you think of the MINI? Here, amid the nostalgic charm of traditional design, you’ll encounter the iconic CLASSIC MINI models set against the backdrop of London, England.
As you move through the classic charm of the space and enter the CURRENT GEN ZONE, you'll discover the MINI CLUBMAN model alongside a tribute to over 55 years of the MINI CLUBMAN legacy: the MINI CLUBMAN FINAL EDITION. Inspired by the first Clubman introduced in 1969, the Final Edition is a homage to MINI’s legacy.
Nestled in a forest lies a unique campsite offering the ultimate car camping adventure with the MINI COOPER S COUNTRYMAN. Here, a rooftop tent installed on the car demonstrates its versatility, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in MINI’s distinctive blend of design and practicality. Meanwhile, the MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE is another show-stopper with its vibrant colors complementing the breezy beach vibes.
The final area of the CURRENT GEN Zone is dominated by the striking design of the MINI COOPER JCW. Back in 1961, renowned car designer John Cooper gave birth to the MINI Cooper, marking the beginning of MINI's 60 years of racing legacy. At the booth, visitors are able to enjoy the racing world of the JCW Challenge game, which simulates driving a MINI JCW around a racing track. Furthermore, the JCW RACING SIMULATOR brought the trills of JCW racing to life, providing an even more immersive gaming experience.
Samsung OLED meets MINI to break new ground in automotive displays!
What was behind the captivating secret that halted countless visitors in the exhibition? The final grand finale of the exhibition is the BEYOND ZONE, an ingenious collaboration between Samsung Display and MINI. Displayed in this zone are the eagerly awaited THE NEW ALL-ELECTRIC MINI COOPER and THE NEW ALL-ELECTRIC MINI COUNTRYMAN, slated to be rolled out in June this year. The world's first automotive circular display has been highly anticipated by visitors. Let's take a look inside the BEYOND ZONE, which was unveiled under the expert guidance of a docent.
'Round OLEDs' for a differentiated automotive experience
MINI's new models greet visitors from the entrance. The new all-electric MINI Cooper and the new all-electric MINI Countryman both feature Samsung Display's Round OLED in-vehicle display next to the steering wheel, offering a more liberating user experience with personalized display functions and a crisp touchscreen. Let's take a closer look at the MINI and the display that turned heads at the exhibition.
The Round OLED display featured in the new MINI is a groundbreaking collaboration between Samsung Display and MINI, marking the automotive industry’s first implementation of a large round OLED display. With intuitive touch controls, users can access various functions including navigation, music playback, and even capture photos without the need for complex operations. Unlike previous models where only a portion of the round center fascia served as a display, the new MINI showcases an entire circular display, enhancing its appeal and intrigue to visitors.
After the docent's explanation, visitors were given a glimpse of MINI's groundbreaking design and the innovative in-vehicle displays made possible by Samsung's OLED products. The high-definition round OLEDs, designed for easy operation akin to a smartphone, captured visitors' attention.
Next to the MINI car, a designated area awaited visitors who were eager to explore Samsung Display's Round OLED displays. Here, visitors were able to experience the possibilities of automotive displays, exploring the unique design and exceptional image quality provided by Samsung OLEDs.
We hope you found the collaboration between Samsung Display and MINI, where iconic design meets cutting-edge displays, to be an enriching experience. Stay tuned for future developments from Samsung Display as we continue to transform the future of automotive experiences with innovative displays!
