[Blue Chip K-Art]③ 'Korean Artists' Studios' That the Global Art World Is Curious About

The 3rd Annual 'Dive into Korean Art'
Expanding Networking Among Domestic and International Exhibition Planners
Expectations for Emerging Artists' Overseas Advancement and International Exchange Activation

After Frieze, one of the world's top three art fairs, was held in Korea for the first time last year and set sales records worth billions from the first day of the exhibition, the global art world is paying attention to Korea. KIAF Seoul, the largest domestic art fair held alongside Frieze Seoul, added to this enthusiasm on site. The organizers estimated that a total of 80,000 visitors attended the two art fairs, an increase of 10,000 compared to last year.

Artist Kim In-bae is explaining the production process of his sculpture "Transformation" in front of key figures in the international art world. [Photo provided by Arts Management Support Center]

Despite the Frieze admission ticket price reaching 250,000 won, the art fair venue was bustling with young visitors who posted 인증샷 (certification shots) on SNS to enjoy the artworks. For the MZ generation audience, art fairs were perceived more as festivals than exhibitions. The tendencies of art enthusiasts are expanding the base of the Korean art market in line with an era where anyone can have direct or indirect experience with high-priced artworks.

The market expansion is extending to interest in new artists and works leading K-Art beyond the large domestic artists represented by Dansaekhwa.

It is estimated that 10,000 overseas art world figures visited Korea during the KIAF-Frieze art fair period held in Seoul last September. To capture their attention, not only the art fair venues but also galleries in Hannam-dong, Cheongdam-dong, and Samcheong-dong competed to present large-scale exhibitions with great care, becoming a hot topic. However, art world figures visiting Seoul were thirsty for 'something new' that could only be seen in Korea.

Beyond large-scale works seen in Europe and the United States, programs visiting Korean artists' studios served as a catalyst to quench that thirst. During the KIAF-Frieze period, 18 key overseas art world figures visited the studios of 12 artists located in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. They talked about the artists' values and artistic worlds and faced the creative process, confirming the unique characteristics and competitiveness of Korean art.

Artist Min Seonghong is explaining the installation process of his work in front of key figures from the international art world who visited his studio.
[Photo by Arts Management Support Center]

Held for the third time this year, this event was planned by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Arts Management Support Center to provide an opportunity to introduce Korean artists' artistic worlds more deeply. Global art world figures and Korean artists met directly in studios, asking questions and explaining the artists' artistic worlds, philosophies, various materials, and expression techniques. Meetings held in vivid studios rather than exhibition halls have since led to the expansion of Korean artists' infrastructure and overseas advancement, producing various achievements.

Art world figures who visited the site include Sohrab Mohebbi, Director of the New York Sculpture Center; Yung Ma, Senior Curator at the Hayward Gallery in the UK; Betsy Johnson, Curator at the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum; Noam Segal, Curator at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum; Angel Xiang-Li, Director of Art Basel Hong Kong; Alvin Lee, Adjunct Curator at Tate Modern; among 18 others.

The 12 artists who opened their studios through the program are Lee Hee-jun, Kim Ji-young, Kwon Hye-won, Ryu Seong-sil, Kim In-bae, Min Seong-hong, Yoon Hyang-ro, Shim Rae-jung, Lee Jin-joo, Hong Seung-hye, Park Geurim, and Lee Jae-i.

We met two experts who participated in 'Dive into Korean Art,' which strengthened the connection between K-Art and the international art world, and heard their views on the potential of Korean art and advice on entering overseas markets.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.