National Center for Mental Health Hosts “Darkening,” a VR Exhibition on Depression

- Co-hosted by the National Center for Mental Health, the Korea Foundation, and the Czech Center Seoul -

- Featuring a VR animation inspired by Czech director Ondrej Moravec’s personal experience with depression -

The National Center for Mental Health (NCMH, Acting President Nam Yoon Young), under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, will co-host the invitational exhibition "Darkening" with the Korea Foundation (KF, President Song Guido) and the Czech Center Seoul (Director Michal Emanovsky) from Monday, January 19 to Friday, February 6, at Gallery M (B1) of the NCMH in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.

Held in conjunction with the KF XR Gallery* curated exhibition "PLATFORM: STILL HUMAN," the exhibition explores contemporary mental health issues through an artistic lens using digital technology.

   * The KF XR Gallery is a digital public diplomacy exhibition space operated by the Korea Foundation. It offers immersive, technology-driven content and media art, enabling audiences in Korea and around the world to engage more actively. 

The exhibition centers on “Darkening,” an 18-minute VR/AR* animated work by Czech director Ondrej Moravec, drawing on his personal experience of living with depression since adolescence.

   * Virtual reality (VR) immerses viewers in digitally created environments, while augmented reality (AR) overlays digital elements onto the real world―allowing viewers to see their own hands and hear their voices as part of the experience.

Using VR technology, audiences can immerse themselves in moments of depression the director calls “darkening.” Sensory and evocative, the work offers an intimate glimpse into what living with depression can feel like―and the ways people seek relief and recovery. More than a portrayal, the exhibition invites empathy and connection with others’ inner lives.

Notably, in collaboration with the Czech Center Seoul, a Korean-dubbed version has been produced, enabling Korean audiences to engage more deeply with the work. The exhibition is also significant as it is being presented at the NCMH’s Gallery M following its premiere at the KF XR Gallery on September 30, 2025.

NCMH Acting President Nam Yoon Young stated, “Through virtual reality, I hope this exhibition fosters shared understanding and solidarity around depression as a global public health issue, and encourages reflection on mental health and its importance.”

The exhibition is free and open to the public. Visiting hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and the gallery is closed on weekends and public holidays. More information is available on the NCMH website (www.ncmh.go.kr).

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