Following the release of two solo songs and the single “Black Swan,” BTS unveiled some of the artwork for their upcoming Map of the Soul: 7 album on Sunday (Feb. 9).
Set to be released on Feb. 21, the first look at Map of the Soul: 7’s artwork features the seven members of BTS in all-white looks, sitting in a barren place above a hole in the floorboards as white feathers float around them. Chiaroscuro lighting effects emphasize the members and their surroundings.
According to a press release from BTS’ company Big Hit Entertainment, the images depict the seven “portraying the swans’ ‘desire for perfection’.”
All white clothing is often associated with purity and death.
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A total of eight images were released today, with seven showing each member either standing or sitting by the gap on his own in solo shots and one featuring the septet as a whole.
This first set of concept photos launches the third phase of BTS’ Map of the Soul: 7 album promotions, and will be followed by the release of three other sets of concept photos throughout this week, ending with the arrival of the album’s tracklist on Feb. 17.
Map of the Soul: 7 follows last April’s Map of the Soul: Persona, which debuted at the top spot on the Billboard 200 as BTS’ third No. 1 in the U.S.
#BTS #????? #MAP_OF_THE_SOUL_7 Concept Photo version 1 pic.twitter.com/Uo0LSRRzxI
— BigHit Entertainment (@BigHitEnt) February 9, 2020
#BTS #????? #MAP_OF_THE_SOUL_7 Concept Photo version 1 pic.twitter.com/p2uJxtaHso
— BigHit Entertainment (@BigHitEnt) February 9, 2020
Update: On Monday ( Feb. 10), BTS unveiled the darker, “Black Swan” oriented concept photos for Map of the Soul: 7. According to a press release, these images feature the septet portraying, ” Seven black swans with an ‘unquenchable thirst.'”
#BTS #????? #MAP_OF_THE_SOUL_7 Concept Photo version 2 pic.twitter.com/BIjrE5HaIr
— BigHit Entertainment (@BigHitEnt) February 10, 2020
#BTS #????? #MAP_OF_THE_SOUL_7 Concept Photo version 2 pic.twitter.com/QEIh1HeVT4
— BigHit Entertainment (@BigHitEnt) February 10, 2020