Korea's experimental artists reborn in different context at MMCA

Korean avant-garde artist Lee Kun-yong stood in front of the audience at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea in Seoul, performing “In Snail’s Gallop,” just as he did when it premiered in 1979. But the reception to the performances couldn't be more different. “My performance is about interacting with audiences. I feel like the audience’s attitude on art has changed a lot from the 1970s. They were quite stiff and seemed to find it difficult to in

July 8, 2023

[Herald Interview] MMCA curator Kang Soo-jung sees Korean avant-garde artists remaining 'forever young'

Art transcends time and space. The exhibition “Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s-1970s” brings Korea’s avant-garde art from decades ago into the present with a glimpse into how the young artists challenged rapid industrialization and authoritarianism. The exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea attracted attention from home and abroad even before its May 26 opening. The show, co-curated by the national museum and the Guggenheim M

July 8, 2023

MMCA gives people chance to let loose at museum

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea wants people to let their hair down this Saturday at the museum, as part of a workshop held alongside the running exhibition “Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s-1970s.” Aiming to challenge social norms, participants of the workshop can clap, laugh out loud, lie down on the floor and more, the museum said. Over the past two weeks, the museum has aggregated ideas of how the audience can break stereotypes and norms

July 7, 2023

Cultural events to mark global gathering of World Federation of the Deaf

An international event is set to kick off July 11 in Jeju Island, with a variety of cultural activities designed for and prepared by deaf people. The 19th World Conference of the World Federation of Deaf will open with an opening ceremony on July 11 and run until July 15 under the theme of “Securing Human Rights in Times of Crisis.” The WFD is an international organization that represents and promotes the rights of deaf people globally. The World Conference, which takes place every f

July 7, 2023

Hakgojae Gallery dusts off works by forgotten artist Rhee Sang-wooc

Galleries discover artists and show their work to the world, much like finding gems that have been left hidden for a long time. Korean painter Rhee Sang-wooc is an artist whose work has received relatively little attention. Born in 1923 in Hamhung, in today's North Korea, Rhee left his hometown for Seoul a couple of years after South Korea's liberation from Japan. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, the artist remained in Korea, unable to travel to his hometown which became part o

July 5, 2023

Architect Thomas Heatherwick shows how he makes places that elicit emotions

How architecture can evoke emotions within people in places is one of the primary questions for British architect Thomas Heatherwick in designing buildings. The “Heatherwick Studio: Building Soulfulness” exhibition shows how the architect and his team try to answer that question. Heatherwick Studio has brought together some 30 projects carried out for the past 29 years evolving around the concept of “soulfulness.” “When you are creating places, the intellect matters

July 3, 2023

[From the scene] Inaugural Grand International Art Fair at Shilla Seoul bustles with art lovers

The inaugural Grand International Art Fair took over the 11th and 12th floors of the five-star Shilla Seoul hotel in Jung-gu, central Seoul, transforming 68 rooms into exhibition spaces for 68 galleries, showcasing the works of more than 300 artists from Friday to Sunday. “It is interesting to see artworks on display at a hotel room for people who want to put up art at home. I think it is especially good for newbie collectors because the lighting in a hotel room is similar to the lighting

July 2, 2023

[Well-curated] Horror nights at BIFAN's free outdoor screenings and more

Knot tying at hanok on a rainy day Donglim Knot Workshop, a small hanok situated just a five-minute stroll away from Anguk Station and near the Bukchon Hanok village, showcases the traditional art of Korean knot tying called "maedeup." This enchanting space, led by Shim Young-mi, who hails from a family with a four-generation legacy in Korean knot craftsmanship, has been in operation since 2004. The workshop proudly displays a wide array of ornamental knots passed down through generati

June 30, 2023

Four Korean-born artists on show at Rockefeller Center

Korean-born artists’ works are on open display at the heart of New York City. Johyun Gallery is presenting masterpieces by Park Seo-bo, Lee Bae, Jin Meyerson and Yoon Jong-suk -- inside and outside the Rockefeller Center. Lee’s 6.5-meter-tall, site specific sculpture of stacked charcoal in the center's iconic Channel Gardens is the first work by a Korean artist to be shown at the outdoor space. The exhibition is diverse -- the artists hail from different generations and work

June 29, 2023

New online art platform Art Fin to join Grand International Art Fair

The online art platform ART Fin will participate in the Grand International Art Fair taking place Friday through Sunday at the Shilla Seoul. Nearly 1,800 works will be on display across 67 rooms of the five-star hotel to offer a sense of how artworks can integrate with space. Launched by TGS Holding in February, ART Fin is a financial art platform specializing in trading digital art and auctions. At GIAF, the art company will offer works by Korea’s established and emerging artists, inclu

June 29, 2023

Chung Sang-hwa's enduring art on show at Gallery Hyundai

Artist Chung Sang-hwa is one of Korea's leading art figures, whose process of repeatedly peeling clay from the canvas and filling in the gaps resembles his lifelong self-discipline as an artist. Gallery Hyundai, which discovered Chung in Paris, has represented the artist since 1983 in Korea and abroad. The exhibition, “Chung Sang-hwa: Infinite Breath,” is the artist's ninth solo exhibition at the gallery and the first in 10 years. The 40 pieces on display range from C

June 27, 2023

Gwangju Biennale 2024 to explore sound, space of 'pansori'

The Gwangju Biennale 2024 will be held under the title “Pansori -- a soundscape of the 21st century,” led by French director Nicolas Bourriaud. "Pansori," a form of Korean traditional musical storytelling performed by a singer and a drummer, will be a metaphor of the overarching theme for the 15th edition of the biennale. Bourriaud will explore the concept of space correlating to sound, spurring a discussion about our changing senses and perceptions of space. Literally mean

June 26, 2023

Picture book artist Baek Hee-na's magical worlds come to life

Tong Tong from "Magic Candies" jumps into the real world at acclaimed picture book artist Baek Hee-na's first solo exhibition, which opened Thursday at Seoul Arts Center's Hangaram Art Museum. Baek, who has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2020 -- the highest international honor in children's literature -- captivates readers with her imaginative storytelling and meticulously crafted visual worlds. "It feels like I have

June 25, 2023

Art fair featuring Lee Ufan, Takashi Murakami to kick off at Shilla Hotel

An art fair featuring a collection of 1,800 art pieces by renowned and emerging artists is set to kick off at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, central Seoul, from Friday to Sunday. The Grand International Art Fair will feature some 60 galleries and 300 artists highlighting the works of internationally recognized artists alongside promising talent. This is the first time in eight years that an art fair is held at the hotel, which is expected to span across 67 rooms. Works of renowned figures such as

June 25, 2023

Kiaf Seoul 2023 gears up for second collaboration with Frieze Seoul

Some 210 galleries from 20 countries will be participating in South Korea’s long-running international art fair Kiaf Seoul this year. The 22nd edition will kick off on Sept. 6 at Coex, southern Seoul along with global art fair Frieze Seoul. Galleries joining the fair for the first time include Denny Gallery and The Hole in New York, Galerie Marguo in Paris, Galerie Thomas in Munich, Lucie Chang Fine Arts in Hong Kong, Tuesday to Friday in Valencia and Triumph Gallery in Beijing. Some leadi

June 21, 2023

Fabric installation artist Woo Hannah wins inaugural Artist Award at Frieze Seoul

Korean artist Woo Hannah has been chosen to receive the inaugural Artist Award at Frieze Seoul, part of the global art fair’s curated program of special projects and collaborations, ahead of its upcoming second edition in September. Woo’s winning commission, “The Great Ballroom,” is a large-scale fabric installation that conveys the changes of the human body. It will be installed at Coex in Seoul, suspended from the ceiling during the art fair. Frieze Seoul will take pl

June 20, 2023

Kim Jae-kyung's timber architecture showcased at Hanyang University

Hanyang University Museum currently has on display a solo exhibition introducing the work of architect Kim Jae-kyung, an associate professor at Hanyang University in Seoul and director of the JK-AR architecture practice. Kim's work explores how legacies of East Asia’s wooden architecture can be applied in contemporary ways. Kim has delved into East Asia’s wooden architecture, comparing the styles of Korea, Japan and China, and came to focus on the structure of brackets – &

June 19, 2023

Rooted in Korean traditional painting, Kim Bo-hie captures beauty of Jeju Island

Painter Kim Bo-hie's solo exhibition at the Kumho Museum of Art in 2020 drew a huge crowd after her paintings went viral on social media. People formed long lines just to get into the museum in search of some comfort from her work, which depicts the nature of Jeju Island. The exhibition earned her popularity among a wider audience. In the latest exhibition, “Towards,” at Gallery Baton in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, the 71-year-old artist introduces her newest paintings that port

June 18, 2023

National Museum of Korea shows legacy of ancient Greek, Roman civilizations

The National Museum of Korea has opened its fourth thematic exhibition featuring elements of international cultural heritage, unveiling gems from ancient Greece and Rome. The 126 antiquities pieces on display are from the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. The exhibition, “Separate But Inseparable: Mythology and Culture of Ancient Greece and Rome,” opened Thursday and runs through May 30, 2027. The collection includes a Roman portrait of Gaius Julius Caesar estimated to be from be

June 18, 2023

Artist Kim A-young wins Prix Ars Electronica's Golden Nica

Artist Kim A-young's video piece, "Delivery Dancer’s Sphere (2022)," has been awarded the Golden Nica in the New Animation Art category at the Prix Ars Electronica 2023, Gallery Hyundai said Friday. The award was given to Kim on Monday in Linz, Austria. Kim is the first Korean to receive the Golden Nica at the Prix Ars Electronica. Established in 1987, the Prix Ars Electronica is the longest-running media art competition for digital arts, culture and music. A total of 3,176

June 16, 2023