The announcement, by culture secretary Maria Miller, that South Korean car company Hyundai will be taking over sponsorship of Tate’s Turbine Hall commissions, for the next 11 years, suggests that cultural diplomacy is at play, the BBC reports.
The company has also supported a major acquisition of video art by South Korea’s Nam June Paik, which will go on display at Tate Modern later this year.
The press conference announcing the new sponsorship also marked the completion of the new bridge across the top of the Turbine Hall, which will link the gallery to its new wing, now scheduled to open in 2016.