Delivering essential Korean contemporary art news every week.
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Art+_News San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Abruptly Dismisses Korean Chief Curator Ju Eunji
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) has abruptly dismissed its Korean chief curator, Ju Eunji. On the 17th (local time), the museum announced that Ju had been removed from her duties due to "workplace misconduct" in accordance with internal regulations.
2024.12.24
Museum_News Art Center Nabi Finds a New Home in Seochon
Art Center Nabi, Korea's first media art museum, led by Director Noh So-Young, has relocated to a traditional Korean house (hanok) in Seochon, a historic neighborhood west of Gyeongbokgung Palace, signaling a new chapter in its journey.
Art never stopped a war and never got anybody a job. That was never its function. Art cannot change events, but it can change people. It can affect people so that they are changed.
Artist_News Artist Chung Seoyoung Participated in Asia Pacific Triennial 11
One of South Korea’s leading contemporary sculptors, Chung Seoyoung, is participating in the 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT11). Held at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) in Brisbane, Australia, APT11 has been underway since November 30 and features 70 artists and collectives from more than 30 countries.
Artist_News Artist Moka Lee Has Been Selected as One of the 10 Artists of “The Artsy Vanguard 2025”
The global online art platform Artsy has selected artist Moka Lee as one of the "Artsy Vanguard 2025" artists, highlighting the most promising talents working today. Among the 10 artists chosen this year, Moka Lee is the only Korean artist featured.
Museum_News Art Center Nabi Finds a New Home in Seochon
Art Center Nabi, Korea's first media art museum, led by Director Noh So-Young, has relocated to a traditional Korean house (hanok) in Seochon, a historic neighborhood west of Gyeongbokgung Palace, signaling a new chapter in its journey.
Museum_News MMCA Announces a New Partnership with LG Electronics
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) announces a new partnership with LG Electronics. This collaboration aims to advance the development of contemporary art and other arts and cultural initiatives across Korea. Under this agreement, LG Electronics will exclusively provide exhibition sponsorship and technical support for the ‘MMCA X LG OLED’ Series over the next three years.
2024.08.20
Museum_News Seoul Museum of Photography Pre-opening Program, “Photo SeMA Spotlight 1: A Place for Photography”, to Be Held on September 3
The Seoul Museum of Art will host an international seminar, “Photo SeMA Spotlight 1: A Place for Photography”, in advance of the opening of the Photography Seoul Museum of Art (Photo SeMA; 70, Madeul-ro 13-gil, Dobong-gu, Seoul, in the first half of 2025). The seminar, which will take place on September 3 at the Buk-Seoul Museum of Art, will commemorate the establishment of Photo SeMA, Korea’s first public photography museum, and also serve as a place to share the visions of international photography institutions in Europe and Asia, along with their programs for contemporary photographers.
Nonprofit_News Olafur Eliason’s Latest Work ‘Breathing earth sphere’ Has Been Unveiled on Docho Island in Shinan County
On the 15th, world-renowned Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson (b. 1967) unveiled his latest work, 숨결의 지구 (Breathing earth sphere), on Docho Island, Shinan County, Jeollanam-do, South Korea. The installation, part of a larger initiative by Shinan County that celebrates the region's natural beauty, centers around public art projects that draw attention to reimagining the immediate environment.
Nonprofit_News ‘FUTURA SEOUL,’ a New Large-scale Exhibition Space, Opens on September 5
On September 5, ‘FUTURA SEOUL,’ a new large-scale exhibition space (around 1,157m2), will open in Bukchon, Seoul. FUTURA SEOUL will present a new artistic experience based on the rich history of Bukchon, which was once the living space of the noble families in the Joseon dynasty.
Biennale_News 2024 Daejeon Art and Science Biennale Spin Off “Magnum Opus” on View Through February 2, 2025
Marking its fourth edition, the Daejeon Art and Science Biennale opened on October 25 under the title “Magnum Opus” As the only biennale in Korea dedicated to the theme of science and art, it will run until February 2 of next year at the Daejeon Museum of Art, Daejeon Creative Center, from the corner (Jeong-dong, Dong-gu), and GONGGAN55 (Seonhwa-dong, Jung-gu).
Biennale_News The 7th Changwon Sculpture Biennale’s Various Programs Are Unveiled
Starting on September 28, the symposium program “Seed and Peel” will be held at the Small Theater of Seongsan Art Hall. The symposium is scheduled for September 28 from 10 am to 4 pm and on September 29 from 1 pm to 4 pm, with simultaneous English translation available.
2024.09.24
Biennale_News The 7th Changwon Sculpture Biennale’s Pre-Exhibition Programs Successfully Concludes
Since last July, the pre-exhibition programs for the Changwon Sculpture Biennale have been underway. The first citizen-participation program, “AVP X Muhayu” (July 15-18), took place at Audio Visual Pavilion (AVP) in Seoul and Muhayu in Changwon, featuring Jeuno JE Kim & Ewa Einhorn, who are based in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Malmö, Sweden, and Sooncheon No, an artist based in Changwon.
Art Market_News South Korea’s MCST Plans to Implement Art Policies for the Continued Growth of the Korean Art Market, Which Exceeded 1 Trillion KRW in 2022
Over the past year, many local experts predicted that the size of the Korean art market would surpass 1 trillion KRW (Korean won) in 2022. This speculation has turned out to be true, as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS) announced on January 4, 2023, that the size of the art market in 2022 was estimated to be 1.0377 trillion KRW (approximately $1 billion USD).
Gallery_News Gagosian to Mount First Exhibition in Korea at Amorepacific
A global contemporary gallery, Gagosian, will mount its first exhibition in South Korea, timed to this year’s edition of Frieze Seoul at Amorepacific headquarters.
2024.07.08
Gallery_News German Gallery ‘Meyer Riegger’ to Open New Space in Seoul This September
German gallery Meyer Riegger, whose international artists include Miriam Cahn, Horst Antes, Sheila Hicks, Caroline Bachmann, John Miller, and many more, will open its doors in Korea this September following the acquisition of Galerie Efremidis.
2024.06.24
Gallery_News Busan’s Representative Gallery ‘Johyun Gallery’ Opens Its Seoul Branch
Busan-based gallery ‘Johyun Gallery’ opened a new location in Seoul’s Shilla Hotel on May 23. The new location marks the gallery’s return to Seoul nine years after closing its Seoul exhibition space in 2015, which was located in the Nature Poem building in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul.
2024.05.27
Gallery_News ARTnews Interview: Tina Kim Discusses the Korean Art Market
As the Korean art market garners increasing attention within the global art world, ARTnews, a leading international art media outlet, conducted an interview with Tina Kim, owner of the Tina Kim Gallery in New York and a member of the Frieze Committee. Tina Kim, the daughter of Hyun-Sook Lee, founder of the Kukje Gallery, shared insights into the growing interest in Seoul, which is starting to gain recognition on the international art scene, as well as 20th-century Korean artists.
2023.09.04
Gallery_News Perrotin Will Open Its Second Space in the Gangnam District
The increasing number of international galleries in Seoul is one of the best indicators of South Korea’s potential in the art market. This recent art market boom has attracted numerous international galleries to the country’s capital city, including New York-based Gladstone Gallery, Berlin-based König Galerie, Austria-based Thaddaeus Ropac, Los Angeles-based Various Small Fires, Beijing-based Tang Contemporary, and Berlin-based Peres Projects.
Auction_News Seoul Auction to Host ‘Connect Seoul 2024’ During Frieze·Kiaf Seoul Week
Seoul Auctions hosts ‘Connect Seoul 2024,’ a series of exhibitions and events from August 24 to September 13 at its Gangnam Center, to coincide with Frieze-Kiaf Seoul Week. Connect Seoul consists of two special exhibitions highlighting major Korean and international artists of modern and contemporary art, a group exhibition of media art, and a preview of upcoming auctions.
2024.09.03
Auction_News SBI Art Auction to Host Its First Overseas Auction Preview at Art Chosun Space in Seoul
Japan’s SBI Art Auction will present its first overseas auction preview, "Early Highlight Viewing in Seoul," from October 1 to 6 at Art Chosun Space (ACS) in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. The preview is part of the "68th SBI Art Auction | MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART" to be held on October 25 and 26.
2024.08.13
Auction_News Global Auction House Phillips Appoints Lim Yeon-ah to Lead the Korean office
On the 5th, Phillips, one of the world’s top three auction houses, appointed Lim Yeon-ah as the head of its Korean office.
Since joining Phillips in 2020, she has overseen Phillips exhibitions during the Frieze Seoul art fair over the past two years.
Auction_News Christie’s First Exhibition in South Korea, What Does This Mean for the Local Art Market?
The booming Korean art market attracts many international art galleries and art fairs to Seoul. World-renowned galleries, including König Galerie, Thaddeus Ropac, and Gladstone Gallery, have opened a branch in Seoul, and Frieze has partnered with Kiaf SEOUL to hold art fairs in Seoul for five years from this year.
Art Fair_News Highlights at Frieze Seoul 2024
Highlights of Frieze Seoul 2024, taking place September 4-7 at COEX, Gangnam, Seoul, have been revealed. The world's leading galleries participating in Frieze Seoul 2024 are highlighting a wide range of distinguished artists in the Solo, Group, Frieze Masters, and Focus Asia sections.
2024.09.03
Art Fair_News Kiaf SEOUL 2024 to Host Special Exhibition “Kiaf onSITE: Invisible Transitions”
The Galleries Association of Korea announced that it will present the special exhibition “Kiaf onSITE: Invisible Transitions” at Kiaf SEOUL 2024, which will be held for five days from September 4 to 8. “Kiaf onSITE” is a special exhibition showcasing the
2024.08.27
Art Fair_News How to Enjoy Frieze Seoul 2024 to the Fullest
Frieze Seoul 2024 will not only feature a fair showcasing globally acclaimed artworks but also present the most extensive and diverse Frieze Week to date, featuring a variety of programs including cultural events in collaboration with galleries and nonprofit organizations.
Art+_News A Giant Art Storage Facility to Be Built at Incheon Airport in 2026
A massive multimillion-dollar art storage facility, Arshexa Freeport, near Incheon International Airport in South Korea is set to break ground as early as next April, aiming to position the country as Asia’s art hub.
Art+_News Artnet Interviews Korean-American Tech Investor Jung Lee on Supporting Contemporary Asian Artists
Korean-American tech investor Jung Lee is soon to be the founder of TEN X, a robotic digital studio in Carrara, Italy, that combines cutting-edge digital robotics with traditional stone craftsmanship to help artists realize their visions. Lee and his wife, Jeeyoon Lim, who began collecting Asian contemporary art more than 20 years ago, founded Rén Space, an experimental art space in Shanghai in 2012 to support Chinese contemporary artists, and have now expanded their efforts globally to provide artists with cutting-edge tools.
2023.09.11
Art+_News The Arts Council Korea Plans a Comprehensive Overhaul of 2024 Open-Call Projects
South Korea provides a substantial amount of support programs for artists, more than many other countries. However, there has been widespread consensus in the field that the open-call support system, managed by public institutions, is overly complicated and difficult to navigate. Additionally, critics argue that there is an overemphasis on minor, one-time project grants, making it challenging for sustainable growth.
2023.08.14
Art+_News South Korea's Art Promotion Act Sparks Debate Over Artists' Resale Rights
In June, South Korea’s National Assembly passed the Art Promotion Act, sparking some controversy within the Korean art scene. This dispute stems from differing opinions among members of the art community regarding the specific implementation guidelines for the “droit de suite,” which refers to an artist’s resale royalty rights.
2023.08.14
Art+_News Hyundai FutureNet, Discovering and Supporting Emerging Media Artists...'Media Art Project'
Hyundai FutureNet, an ICT company affiliated with the Hyundai Department Store Group, signed a business agreement with the Korea Mecenat Association and Alternative Space ARTFORUM RHEE on the 27th of last month to revitalize the media art industry. Under the agreement, Hyundai FutureNet and the art organization Alternative Space ARTFORUM RHEE will carry out the ‘Hyundai FutureNet Media Art Project’ as part of the ‘Arts & Business’ collaboration project organized by the Korea Mecenat Association.
