Hoam Museum of Art reopens with abstract master Kim Whan-ki retrospective

Korea’s contemporary art master Kim Whan-ki (1913-1974) is well known for dense dot paintings that fill the entire canvas and his signature blue color. Following extensive renovations, the Hoam Museum of Art in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, reopens Thursday with a large-scale retrospective of the artist. The museum, run by Samsung Foundation of Culture and the Leeum Museum of Art, is reopening after an 18-month renovation. Such a retrospective of Kim's 40-year career is rare, although

May 17, 2023

Focus New York 2023 kicks off this week with some 40 galleries

Seoul-based gallery Kocoon d‘Art will participate in Focus New York 2023, scheduled from Thursday to Sunday, at Chelsea Industrial in New York City. The fair is part of New York Art Week which features two global art fairs, TEFAF New York Art Fair and Frieze New York. Focus New York 2023 will include some 40 galleries including Kocoon d‘Art, which will present Korean artists Choi Wool-ga, Kim Hong-nyun and Hong Purume at the fair. The paintings will include Choi’s "Brook

May 16, 2023

What to see in galleries in Seoul: international galleries bring together prominent artists

Several leading galleries internationally that have locations here are showing a variety of exhibitions in May not only for collectors but also for the general audience. While Korea's art market has slowed down this year, exhibitions where the public can appreciate first-rate contemporary art continue to multiply. Three top galleries operating internationally – Thaddaeus Ropac, Perrotin and Lehmann Maupin -- have kicked off new exhibitions in Seoul. Austrian gallery Thaddaeus Ropac

May 15, 2023

Paintings from London's National Gallery to be shown at National Museum of Korea

A special exhibition of European paintings from the 15th to 20th centuries will open June 2 at the National Museum of Korea in collaboration with the National Gallery, London. Titled "Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London," the upcoming exhibition will show a total of 52 renowned paintings from the London museum through Oct. 9. The exhibition, which celebrates the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and the UK, is also a part of the National Gallery's Asi

May 14, 2023

Celadon thought to be from Goryeo goes on exhibition

The exhibition “Oia: Zen and Celadon of Goryeo” has kicked off Friday at the Dohwaseogil Culture Complex Center in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, presenting some 200 celadon pieces estimated to be from the Goryeo era (918-1392) collected by pottery collector Ju Jae-yoon. Running through July 20, the exhibition is accompanied by a meditation gallery that shows media artwork by Choi Min-seok under the theme of growth and meditation, offering a time for visitors to seek inner peace. The digi

May 12, 2023

French curator Nicolas Bourriaud to lead Gwangju Biennale next year

French curator Nicolas Bourriaud will direct the 15th Gwangju Biennale scheduled to open in September 2024. Bourriaud is a renowned critic in the global art scene who has explored the concept of “relational aesthetics.” The discourse of relational aesthetics -- which deals with concept of relationships, meditation, participation and interaction -- is often cited as one of the defining concepts in contemporary art. Bourriaud plans to incorporate his artistic philosophy into a discou

May 12, 2023

[Herald Interview] Kiaf Seoul, together with Frieze Seoul, govt. to strengthen Seoul as Asian art hub

As Seoul has emerged as a new key Asian art hub in the last couple of years with the country's growing number of art collectors, many are curious as to whether its new presence in the global art scene will grow bigger and stronger or slowly diminish. Hwang Dal-sung, president of the Galleries Association of Korea, who was reelected to lead the association representing some 160 galleries in Korea for another two years following a tightly fought election in February, is determined to strength

May 11, 2023

Nam June Paik Art Center shows video art pioneer's early work at 'Something Like an Appleseed'

Nam June Paik Art Center, the world’s only museum dedicated to the Korea-born video art master, has unveiled the artist’s early work “Random Access Audio Tape” for the first time in South Korea after acquiring the piece last year. The exhibition “Something Like an Appleseed” at the museum in Gyeonggi Province was inspired by Paik’s 1980 lecture titled “Random Access Information” which was organized by curator Barbara London of the Museum of

May 9, 2023

[From the Scene] Art Busan moves beyond venue

When Art Busan kicked off in 2012, South Korea's second-largest city Busan was an "art desert." Twelve years later, the organizers claim the fair, which began Thursday, has helped the city turn into a thriving art destination in South Korea. And during this year's four-day air fair, the city’s vibrant art scene lights up beyond its home at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center. For instance, at the Paradise Hotel Busan, about 3 kilometers from Bexco, British artist

May 5, 2023

British artist Julian Opie takes pandemic experience as opportunity to evolve art

BUSAN -- Returning to Busan after five years, British artist Julian Opie showcased the evolution of his art during the pandemic lockdown. The lockdown provided new inspiration to the artist, who has experimented with different forms of art over the years. Opie is famous for bringing life into images with use of LEDs, which are used to animate figures. His iconic LED installations of walking people have become familiar to commuters in Seoul with his large-scale media display, “Crowd,”

May 4, 2023

JR brings together projects from around the world in Seoul

French artist JR claims to own the largest gallery in the world -- the walls around the cities he travels to. The photographer has earned global recognition in his creation of participatory projects across the world that deliver powerful messages in collaboration with citizens. The photographer has unveiled his first large-scale exhibition in Seoul at the Lotte Museum of Art, introducing his projects and helping people understand the intention behind his works. JR has carried out a number of par

May 3, 2023

Young Swiss, Korean photographers showcased at Gwangju Biennale Swiss Pavilion

GWANGJU -- In celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and South Korea, the Embassy of Switzerland in Seoul is presenting “Spaceless,” an exhibition at the Swiss Pavilion in the 14th Gwangju Biennale. The pavilion, set up at Leeleenam Studio, is a collaboration of eight young photographers from the two countries. It presents the urban environment through an artistic lens, and a photographic rediscovery of urban spaces. Curated by Chun Kyung-wo

May 1, 2023

Art student eats Maurizio Cattelan's banana at Leeum

Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan's iconic art piece -- a ripe banana duct-taped onto a wall -- on display at an art museum in Seoul, was eaten by a college student in an act which he described as "artwork." The student ate the banana from Cattelan's "Comedian" at around 1 p.m., Thursday. The work is part of Cattelan's solo exhibition “WE” currently running at the Leeum Museum of Art, according to the private museum. At the exhibition showing some 38

April 30, 2023

[Photo News] Louis Vuitton turns Jamsu Bridge into runway

Models walk on Jamsu Bridge over the Han River in Seoul, which was turned into a runway for the Louis Vuitton pre-fall fashion show on Saturday. The occasion marked the French luxury powerhouse’s first-ever fashion show for its pre-fall collection, designed by Nicolas Ghesquiere. Traffic was halted for 24 hours on the lower level of the bridge which was used as the runway. Hwang Dong-hyuk, director of Netflix's hit drama “Squid Game," participated in the show's scenogr

April 30, 2023

'Young Korean Artists' explores museum as space at MMCA in Gwacheon

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea has brought South Korea’s emerging artists to the fore at exhibitions dedicated to young artists since the state museum was founded in 1986. “Young Korean Artists” is the museum's longest-running program that aims to discover young artists. Thirteen emerging artists and collectives recommended by the state museum's curators and art experts are participating in this year's exhibition titled “Young K

April 29, 2023

[Photo News] Yoo Ji-an's moon jar series on display at Lotte Hotel Seoul

A total of 20 craft works by contemporary mother-of-pearl artist Yoo Ji-an are on display at Lotte Hotel in Seoul. Yoo has created sculptures inspired by Korea’s traditional craftsmanship, pioneering the genre of contemporary mother-of-pearl art. The exhibition “On the Path of Time” features the artist’s “The Moon” series at the hotel’s lobby and lounge “Le Salon” on the 16th floor. One of Yoo’s moon jars created with mother-of-pearl, p

April 28, 2023

Beauty of Korean craftsmanship to be celebrated in London

South Korea’s contemporary craftsmanship will be introduced in London to coincide with London Craft Week, bringing together 11 Korean craft masters and artists at the exhibition “Light of Weaving: Labour-Hand-Hours” from May 11 to June 30. The exhibition at the Korean Cultural Centre UK will feature works by successful Korean craft masters and unique work inspired by traditional Korean craftwork. Among the artists is Jeong Da-hye, winner of the 2022 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize

April 28, 2023

Daegu Art Museum under audit after forgery found

Daegu Art Museum is under a special audit by the city government after one of the museum's paintings was found to be a forged work. "Plum Blossom," attributed to Joseon-era painter Kim Jin-man (1876-1933), was found to have been forged, and the city government is looking into how it became part of the city museum's collection. “Technically all works are subject to inspection. We will remove works found to be fake from our collection. For now, we are waiting for the in

April 27, 2023

Elly Cho imagines emergence of hybrid human species

Interdisciplinary artist Elly Cho’s solo exhibition “The Occupancy of the Self: Imagining Hybrid Moments” has kicked off at This is Not a Church, a cultural space in Seoul. Through different artistic practices, Cho explores the impact of climate change on the future environment. The exhibition features artworks created using AI drawing tools, capturing the artist's imagination of the future with the potential emergence of a hybrid human species due to climate change. The e

April 27, 2023

[Herald Interview] Fernando Menis stresses importance of locality in architecture

When Spanish architect Fernando Menis came to Seoul in early 2020 for a lecture, he found himself stuck in the city as the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic halted all international travel. It was a totally unexpected situation, and the architect decided to walk around the city every day just to explore it without any particular intent. “After I had breakfast at 8 a.m., I started to walk for five hours every day alone like a student. I (found) a lot of things beautiful. I discovered sma

April 25, 2023