Hanjin Ilwoo Foundation Selects Yo-E Ryou as Winner of the '2026 Ilwoo Art Award'

Selected from 125 Applicants

Developing a Unique Artistic Language through Video and Sound

Support Includes 60 Million Won for Production and Airfare

New Works to Debut at Ilwoo Space in 2028

The Ilwoo Foundation, a public interest foundation under Hanjin Group, announced on May 7 that it has selected artist Yo-E Ryou as the final winner of the '2026 Ilwoo Art Award,' which aims to discover and support next-generation artists.

Profile of Yo-E Ryou, the recipient of the 2026 Ilwoo Art Award. Ilwoo Foundation

This year’s competition saw fierce competition, with a total of 125 applicants. The selected winner, Yo-E Ryou, is an emerging artist who works with video, performance, and sound, and has developed a unique artistic language based on her experiences with the Jeju haenyeo (female diver) community. Through her representative work, "Why I Swim," she explores the relationship between individuals and the community, and has been actively participating in major exhibitions both domestically and internationally.

The judging panel consisted of five members: Yuki Kamiya, Chief Curator at the National Art Center, Tokyo; Sangyong Sim, Professor at Seoul National University; Yulli Yoon, Chief Curator at Ilmin Museum of Art; Jisun Park, VIP Representative for Art Basel Korea; and James Taylor-Foster, Director of Para Site Hong Kong. The selection process was conducted rigorously.

The winner will be given the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition at Ilwoo Space, Ilwoo Foundation’s exhibition venue. Following Nam Hwa-yeon in 2024 and An Jungju in 2025, Yo-E Ryou is scheduled to present new works in 2028.

To foster her growth as an internationally competitive artist, the foundation will provide 30 million won for production costs and flight tickets worth another 30 million won to support her artistic activities.

Since 2024, Hanjin Group has operated the 'Ilwoo Art Award,' which was originally established as the 'Ilwoo Photography Award' in 2009. The foundation continues to select and support one emerging or mid-career artist with talent and passion, presenting high-quality exhibitions at Ilwoo Space, located in the lobby of the Korean Air Seosomun Building.

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