Over the past half century, Ghana Chocolate has established itself as the chocolate that represents Korea, filling the myriad moments in everyday life with sweetness and softness. From the soft melting sensation of the first bite, to the deep and rich flavor that spreads in your mouth, and to the warm feeling that comes with it, Ghana Chocolate has been more than just a snack; it has been stirring emotions and connecting us with special moments in our memories.

When Ghana Chocolate was introduced to the world in 1975, it was aimed to become a cultural keyword that goes beyond taste and aroma, captivating people’s hearts and stimulating their artistic senses. It was also a medium to share happiness with loved ones, to comfort oneself, to find peace of mind, and to celebrate special moments and new beginnings. Over the past 50 years, Ghana Chocolate has become more than just chocolate. It has become a part of everyday life, bringing happiness and joy.

This exhibition looks back on Ghana Chocolate’s 50-year history, aiming to expand its artistic meaning from the chocolate to the artwork. Through five Korean and international contemporary artists(GRAFFLEX, Meeyoung Kim, COIN PARKING DELIVERY, Seon Ghi BAHK, Sunwoo Kim), each with a different formative language imbuing visual imagination, the sensory experience of Ghana Chocolate is translated into artistic symbols.

GRAFFLEX turns the moment of Ghana Chocolate’s birth into a visualized space in his unique language, while Meeyoung Kim matches the softness of chocolate with her own method to create a massive video artwork. Japan-based artist COIN PARKING DELIVERY presents an installation sculpture that explores the meaning of relationships through the act of sharing chocolate for the first time ever in Korea, and in the hands of Korea’s leading installation artist Seon Ghi BAHK, a massive artwork that expands the form of the chocolate grid into space is reborn into a poetic language using charcoal. Lastly, “dodo bird artist” Sunwoo Kim depicts the journey of a dodo bird in search of the finest cacao in the African jungle.

The exhibition’s title, Atelier Ghana, uses the French word “atelier,” which means “workshop” or “workroom.” LOTTE Museum of Art captures the 50 years of Ghana Chocolate by turning the familiar snack in our everyday lives into a special space to experience works of art. Ghana Chocolate aims to be experienced as an artistic sensation, and it has been reinterpreted through the collaboration with contemporary artists, conveying a heritage that  contains history and philosophy rather than a mere dessert.

In celebration of Ghana Chocolate’s 50^th anniversary, we hope that this exhibition, where art and sensation, as well as creativity and emotion intersect, will bring new meaning to the chocolatey special moments in your memories.