KOCCA unveils immersive media art, AI experience at ‘Age of Light’ project

The Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism have unveiled the second part of their immersive cultural project “Age of Light,” known as “Gwanghwa Sidae” on Friday. Under the theme “The era of light from 5G networks,” an immersive media art garden “Gwanghwa Won” and an artificial intelligence experience booth “Gwanghwa In” opened to the public at the Seoul Metro Art Center in Gyeongbokgung Stati

Jan. 14, 2022

K Auction raises more than 5 trillion won at public offering before Kosdaq listing

The competition ratio for K Auction’s public offering recorded 1408.33:1 during the two-day public offering session, raising more than 5 trillion won ($4.2 billion) in subscription deposit, according to IR Kudos on Thursday. South Korea’s second-largest auction house conducted a two-day public offering starting Wednesday, aiming to become the second auction house in the country to be traded on the junior Kosdaq exchange. The auction house is planning for a Kosdaq listing on Jan. 2

Jan. 13, 2022

‘Pyeongsaengdo,’ Joseon artwork depicting ideal life, goes digital

An 8-panel folding screen depicting scenes from an ideal life as conceived by Joseon-era people is now available in a digital format. The National Museum of Korea revealed “Pyeongsaengdo,” thought to have been completed in the late 19th to early 20th century, in a digitally restored eight-panel folding screen format on its website on Wednesday. The paintings depict in detail the major celebratory occasions that arise from the life of a scholar-official. They include such private

Jan. 12, 2022

‘My Jubilee ist Unverhemmet’ : Paik Nam-june’s wish realized at Nam June Paik Art Center

Korean-born video art pioneer Paik Nam-june will be remembered at the Nam June Paik Art Center that is commemorating the 90th anniversary of the artist’s birth this year with a number of special projects throughout the year. The artist died Jan. 29, 2006, leaving a legacy that continues to influence media artists today. The museum, which the artist described as a “house where the spirit of Nam June Paik lives on,” will kick-start the yearlong celebration of Paik‘s legac

Jan. 12, 2022

Ulsan Art Museum brings wealth of culture to industrial city

ULSAN -- Located in southeastern South Korea, Ulsan is synonymous with the country‘s industrialization. The city is home to the world’s largest automobile plant and driving through the port of Ulsan, Hyundai cars preparing to be exported on ships are hard to miss. Some 307 kilometers from Seoul, the city has opened its first art museum in the eastern part of the city -- a museum that specializes in media art. Five inaugural exhibitions are currently running, including the main exh

Jan. 11, 2022

Hangang Parks turned into stage for outdoor sculptures

Hangang Parks across Seoul will turn into sculpture parks from February through 2024. Each exhibition will feature 35 sculptures, which will change for different exhibits across the 11 riverside parks. The project was organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in collaboration with K-Sculpture, an organization that aims to promote Korean sculptors. Two exhibitions will take place at different Hangang Parks running for two months at a time. Coinciding with Frieze Seoul -- the global art

Jan. 10, 2022

MMCA to bolster global presence, commemorate Paik Nam-june’s legacy

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea will expand international ties with overseas museums and commemorate video art pioneer Paik Nam-june’s legacy this year to coincide with the unveiling of “The More The Better,” the largest work by the artist, after a years-long restoration. The state museum, which has been invited to the dOCUMENTA Kassel 15, a global contemporary art exhibition in Kassel, Germany scheduled to kick off on June 18, will present “20

Jan. 10, 2022

In pursuit of new reality: Surrealism visits Seoul

After the first world war devastated Europe, killing millions of people, a number of artistic groups started to become suspicious of human reason, exploring the unconscious and dreams. As the pandemic continues its own devastation, and the response raises its own questions about human judgment, exhibitions that touch on the century-old cultural movement and its artists have been brought into Seoul. As an escape from the reality of war, artists started to turn their eyes to the unconscious tr

Jan. 8, 2022

Festering conflict between galleries, auction houses laid bare in giddy Korean art market

As the art market grows exponentially in South Korea, the tension between primary and secondary players has heightened with galleries uniting to launch an auction event in late January, claiming the country‘s major auction houses have violated a “gentlemen’s agreement” struck in 2007. The Galleries Association of Korea announced Monday that it will hold an auction on Jan. 26 at the Westin Josun Seoul with an aim to protect the art market, particularly young artists. S

Jan. 4, 2022

Galleria Gwanggyo wins UNESCO-administered architecture prize, Prix Versailles 2021

The newly-built upscale department store Galleria in Gwanggyo, Gyeonggi Province, was recognized by UNESCO’s annual Prix Versailles Awards, winning the top Prix Versailles 2021 prize in the shopping mall category. The sixth branch of Galleria -- South Korea’s first and major upscale department store franchise founded in the 1970s -- opened in March 2020 in Gwanggyo, a new town just 25 kilometers south of Seoul. The building was designed by OMA, an architectural firm headquartered

Jan. 2, 2022

[Weekender] What to expect in the Korean art scene next year

South Korea’s art scene has enjoyed an unprecedented booming year in 2021 with art fairs and auction houses seeing record-breaking sales. This trend was backed by emerging younger collectors who are increasingly embracing the arts as part of their culture. The late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s art collection donated to the country also triggered an interest in art, with people lining up to see the artworks given to two national museums. On top of that, internationally renowned ga

Jan. 1, 2022

Minhwa of Korean tiger from late Joseon era brings courage, hope

A Korean tiger sits behind bamboo trees, glaring as if it is waiting for the perfect timing to make its move. The tiger, however, looks somehow friendly and mischievous, reflecting the painter’s sense of wit.  The painting was created in the late Joseon era (1392-1910) by Lee San, known by the pen name “Myeong Dang.” It was unveiled by Lee Young-soo, an emeritus professor from Dankook University and a collector of Korean folk painting.  “Painting of Intrepidit

Dec. 30, 2021

‘CAMP After Media Promises’ at Nam June Paik Art Center challenges conventional media art

The Nam June Paik Art Center is showcasing the exhibition “CAMP After Media Promises” by CAMP, a Mumbai-based collaborative studio, who explores various media technologies through research, infrastructural interventions and documentation. Led by Shaina Anand, Ashok Sukumaran and Sanjey Bhangar, CAMP was formed in 2007 as an artist collective but later transformed into a studio where ideas and energies gather and become interest and forms, aiming to redefine the categories of observ

Dec. 29, 2021

Ancient art of lacquer on show at Asian lacquerware exhibition

The National Museum of Korea launched the special exhibition “Ottchil, the Coated Splendor of Asian Lacquerware” on Tuesday, showcasing some 260 pieces of lacquerware produced in different parts of Asia. Lacquer, called “ottchil” in Korean, is a natural paint that has been used in Asia since ancient times. The water-repellent and insect-repellent aspects of lacquer increases the longevity of the objects, while adding a beautiful luster to them. Lacquer crafts are time

Dec. 21, 2021

Leeum Museum of Art collaborates with Naver TV, offers special opening on Dec. 27

Leeum Museum of Art will stream its two permanent exhibitions on Naver TV introducing its key collection as well as offer a chance for viewers to visit the exhibitions in person for a special opening of the museum on Dec. 27. One of the country’s top private museums, Leeum Museum of Art has seen an upswing in popularity since reopening on Oct. 8, with reservation time slots allowing 600 people to visit on a daily basis. The museum is currently showcasing two permanent collection shows o

Dec. 19, 2021

Jeju Island’s less discovered sides captured by photographer Cho Eui-hwan

Photographer Cho Eui-hwan has made it his mission to shed light on a lesser-known side of Jeju Island -- their fields. Some 70 photographs of fields across the island that he has captured since 2014 are on display at the Kim Bo Sung Art Center in Pyeongchang-dong, Seoul. Cho’s attraction to the variety of fields on Jeju Island began in 2014 and turned into a three-year stay. Very few know that the popular tourist destination also has many fields, which play an integral role in supporti

Dec. 16, 2021

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei unveils vast range of works in Seoul for first time

A large snake created with life vests is hung from the ceiling of an exhibition hall at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, as if crawling toward the audience. The 140 life vests were once worn by refugees who crossed the ocean from Africa and the Middle East and managed to reach the Greek island of Lesbos, in 2016. Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei connected the life vests of adults and children collected on the island to create “Life Vest Snake,” which i

Dec. 14, 2021

Photographers reinterpret images of their cultural heritage

The legacy of renowned modern sculptor Kwon Jin-kyu (1922-1973) lives on today, serving as a source of inspiration for many young artists. The sculptural masterpieces were recently brought to life by fashion photographer Mok Jung-wook, who creates his own narratives through photographs. 　The exhibition “Images of Eternity: Kwon Jin Kyu × Mok Jungwook” running through Dec. 28 at PKM Gallery in Seoul presents 8 self-portraits and religious sculptures by Kwon along with a

Dec. 13, 2021

Alex Katz’s most recent flower paintings unveiled at Thaddaeus Ropac Seoul

Thaddaeus Ropac Seoul kicked off its second exhibition since its opening in October, unveiling recent floral paintings from American figurative artist Alex Katz who returned to the subject at the beginning of the pandemic last year. Focusing on the artist’s flower paintings, the works painted over the past two years show how the pandemic has influenced his artistic world. Among the flower paintings are “Wild Spring Flowers2,” “Peony” and “Rhododendron on O

Dec. 13, 2021

Here are Christmas gift ideas for this year - Korean craftworks

Christmas never fails to come. While some here have small family or friend gatherings, others would prefer to fly home overseas and meet loved ones. Expressing gratitude and handing over a small present to your loved ones will be even more encouraging than ever, after years of fighting the pandemic. This year’s booming art market has spilled over to creating a variety of art items at museums or galleries, particularly for younger people whose interest in art has grown in recent years i

Dec. 11, 2021