White Cube shows sublime beauty of Minoru Nomata's art

Viewing Japanese artist Minoru Nomata’s paintings, one may feel as though they were hovering between reality and illusion. One wonders if the architecture depicted in them actually exists. The exhibition “Far Sights” is the artist’s first show in Seoul, spanning two decades of his career. It brings together paintings, including the “Eastbound” series from the late 1990s, which draws from the prevailing influence of “Eastern aesthetics and “Japonism

Feb. 5, 2024

Kwak Hyun-joo puts kaleidoscope of colors on runway

KwakHyunJoo Collection’s fall-winter 2024 runway show at Seoul Fashion Week on Sunday was a unisex show of colors -- from clotted cream and pink to bright lime green and light blue -- in a wide array of outwear. At Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, the mix of colors and fabrics on the runway embodied what designer Kwak wants her brand to become: attractive and sexy. Boxy blazers and coats, slouchy crop tops, draped trousers and chiffon skirts set Kwak’s collection apart from others.

Feb. 5, 2024

Designer Im Seon-oc offers mix of structured and fluid looks

As expected, Im Seon-oc, the womenswear designer known for her use of neoprene, celebrated her synthetic-rubber style at Seoul Fashion Week on Saturday, this time in exuberant bursts of pink, red and lavender. The fall-winter 2024 collection of Partsparts embodied muted luxury or a “uniform for city life.” Long-sleeve tops and draped trousers, with minimal or almost no embellishments, reflected Im’s way of balancing practicality and originality. “Clothes have to be innova

Feb. 4, 2024

[What to see] Korean artists flourish at both international, Korean galleries

This is a good time of year to discover Korean artists that you might not know of, both emerging and established, and see their new works in Seoul. Several international and Korean galleries are putting on interesting exhibitions of Korean artists as the new year starts. Here is a round-up of notable shows. “Wonderland” at Lehmann Maupin The American gallery is holding an exhibition of works by four Korean-born artists – You Gui-mi, Nahm Hyun, Yim Mie and Ken Gun Min –

Feb. 3, 2024

LIE’s Lee matches elegance with Olympic spirit at Seoul Fashion Week

At Seoul Fashion Week on Friday, Lee Chung-chung, the iconic womenswear designer famed for elegantly juxtaposing bold colors with soft features, added something new to his fall-winter 2024 collection: the Olympic, or “All-lympic,” spirit. An abstract painting of the five Olympics rings drawn by a performer with prosthetic arms kicked off LIE’s runway show at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in eastern Seoul. Some of the models came out in wheelchairs. “A sense of togetherness was

Feb. 2, 2024

On first day of Seoul Fashion Week, runways play up power of heritage, personality

Starting off the biannual Seoul Fashion Week on Thursday were runway shows that touched on the themes of reverence for heritage and personality. Designer Park So-young, who goes by Sooy Park, delivered a powerful 24-minute catwalk that featured worn-out shirts and monotone suits, which the womenswear designer brought back to life, a reinterpretation of the old while reaching for aesthetic sophistication. Oversized garments in muted tones and nuanced color palettes, rather than bold and vivid, un

Feb. 2, 2024

Korean art scene comes together to tout presence at Venice Biennale

Different players spanning the Korean art scene came together Wednesday in Seoul to discuss plans for presenting Korean art at the upcoming Venice Biennale, where more than 50 Korean artists are to be shown. It was an unprecedented joint press conference held ahead of the global art event with the participation of a government entity, a museum, commercial galleries, art foundations and the Gwangju Biennale. The joint press conference was led by Arts Council Korea, the commissioner of the Korean

Feb. 1, 2024

[Herald Interview] Guggenheim Museum puts Korean experimental art on global art stage

Experimental art in Korea from the 1960s to 1970s has received little attention compared to other Korean art genres despite its unique place in Korean art history. Setting the art genre in the global context for international audiences was a recent exhibition at Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York co-organized with the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. The exhibition “Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s-1970s” ended its four-month run at the Gug

Jan. 31, 2024

Seoul Fashion Week opens early to attract foreign buyers

The biannual Seoul Fashion Week will open Thursday with 21 local fashion designer brands and 68 local fashion brands showing their collections at two venues: Dongdaemun Design Plaza and SFactory. The five-day event, which kicks off a month earlier than last year, is aimed at linking as many foreign buyers as possible to local brands seeking a global presence, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. A total of 101 foreign buyers from 23 countries are expected to attend. “We’re

Jan. 30, 2024

Korea to host 10th World Summit on Arts and Culture in 2025

South Korea will co-host the 10th edition of the World Summit on Arts and Culture next year, bringing together more than 400 experts and artists from across the world to discuss cultural issues and seek cultural cooperation among countries. The summit is organized by the International Federation of Arts Council and Culture Agencies which holds world summits around the world to debate complex issues of the time with cultural leaders. South Korea was chosen unanimously by the 13 delegates in Oct

Jan. 30, 2024

[Herald Interview] Hauser & Wirth shrugs off doubts about Hong Kong as art capital of Asia

HONG KONG -- International gallery Hauser & Wirth has cemented its presence in Hong Kong with its move to a new location in the Central District last week. The three-story space is easily sighted and accessed. “We wanted to be on the street level and we wanted to stay in the center," the Swiss gallery’s Managing Partner Asia Elaine Kwok told The Korea Herald on Jan. 23 at the new space in Hong Kong. "This is a really fantastic space – not only it is on the groun

Jan. 29, 2024

[From the Scene] Hauser & Wirth expands in Hong Kong to further engage with community

Hong Kong -- Two performers in lion costumes made their way across European gallery Hauser & Wirth’s newly opened space in Hong Kong on Wednesday, dancing to the drumbeat and clashing cymbals. The dancing lions plucked green heads of lettuce hung on a pole and spread them across the exhibition space, private showroom and office, as part of a traditional ritual performance in Hong Kong to bring good luck and fortune to a new space. It was accompanied by a roast pig cutting ceremony. Hau

Jan. 25, 2024

Architect Cho Min-suk to design Serpentine Pavilion in London

The Korean concept of “madang,” a multi-functional courtyard, will be central to the 23rd Serpentine Pavilion designed by Seoul-based architect Cho Min-suk and his firm, Mass Studies. The pavilion, titled “Archipelagic Void,” will be unveiled at Serpentine South in London on June 5, Serpentine said in announcing the choice of this year’s pavilion Monday. Shaped like a five-pointed star with a void in the center, “Archipelagic Void” will consist of five &

Jan. 23, 2024

Hermes emphasizes versatility at menswear show for Paris Fashion Week

Hermes emphasizes versatility at menswear show for Paris Fashion Week By Mimosa Spencer PARIS, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Veronique Nichanian, the artistic director for menswear at Hermes, presented a textured lineup of polished looks for the label’s winter runway show on Saturday, showing the versatile side of the high-end fashion label. Models filed past brightly-lit columns in thick sheepskin coats, checked suits, trim leather jackets and a silky bomber jacket in pea green. A glossy leather coa

Jan. 21, 2024

Pioneering sculptor Kim Yun-shin lands in 2 commercial galleries ahead of age 90

Sculptor Kim Yun-shin will work with two leading galleries, American gallery Lehmann Maupin and Kukje Gallery in Seoul, marking her first partnerships with commercial galleries the six decades of her artistic career. The 88-year-old artist had her inaugural institutional solo exhibition in South Korea at the Nam-Seoul Museum of Art in 2023, with “Kim Yunshin: Towards Oneness” comprehensively showcasing her work. The exhibition reignited both renewed and belated interest in the artist

Jan. 19, 2024

Lady Dior handbag re-imagined by three Korean artists

French luxury brand Dior’s iconic Lady Dior handbag has reinvented itself since its first debut on Princess Diana’s arm in 1995. It had been given as a gift by the first lady of France. The bag has since become one of the most beloved handbags around the world. Since 2016, the fashion house has collaborated with artists, recreating its iconic bag into works of art. Marking its eighth edition, the Dior Lady Art project collaborated with 12 artists from around the world, including Kore

Jan. 17, 2024

[Herald Interview] Lee Kwang-ho paints to learn his desires

Numerous painstaking depictions of each blade of grass, flower and plant fill 59 canvases that are pieced together to create a complete work that is more than 12 meters long and fills the wall from floor to ceiling. It’s a rare experience to feel awe while standing in front of an artwork, but Lee Kwang-ho’s large-scale painting of a New Zealand wetland at Kukje Gallery is overwhelming. Lee could not recall how many brushes he has at his studio when asked during an interview with The

Jan. 14, 2024

Documentaries on art museums offer different perspectives

What brings you to a museum? The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea is screening documentaries to provoke people to think about why museums exist and how they contribute to society. “What We Talk About When We Talk About Museum” at MMCA Seoul is screening five documentary films that deal with various perspectives surrounding art museums – “National Gallery” (2014), “The Museum” (2017), “The New Rijksmuseum -- The Film” (2

Jan. 10, 2024

MMCA to purchase more international art for collection

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea will expand the proportion of international art in its collection, which stands at less than 10 percent of its total collected works. Among the 11,500 works in its collection, 993 are by overseas artists, according to the museum. Ninety-one percent of its collection are works by Korean artists. “The Korean art scene has received more attention than ever in recent years. What the museum holds in its collection is equivalent to its co

Jan. 10, 2024

Yoo Hwa-soo wins 23rd SongEun Art Award

Korean artist Yoo Hwa-soo has won the 23rd SongEun Art Award for his installation work, “Gesture of Cultivation,” which was shown at the 23rd edition of the SongEun Art Award Exhibition, the SongEun Art and Cultural Foundation announced Friday. A group exhibition at the SongEun Art Space in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul, showcases artworks by 20 artists shortlisted for the foundation's annual award. A total of 512 artists applied for the 23rd edition of the award. Born in 1979, Yoo

Jan. 9, 2024