South Korea’s longest-running art fair, the Hwarang Art Fair, will return this spring at its largest scale yet, with 169 leading domestic galleries taking part.
Lee Seong-hoon, chairman of the Korea Galleries Association, said at a news conference Tuesday at the Seoul Press Center that the fair will “spotlight 19 artists through expanded solo booths.” He added, “We have prepared docent programs and special exhibitions so visitors can appreciate the works more deeply.”
Major galleries including Gana Art, Kukje Gallery, Gallery Hyundai, Johyun Gallery, Hakgojae and PKM will participate, joined by newer galleries that opened after the 2010s, organizers said.
Gallery Hyundai will show works by Dansaekhwa master Chung Sang-hwa, who died earlier this year, and by Lee Kang-so, regarded as a leading figure in experimental art. Samter Gallery will present works by Dansaekhwa masters Park Seo-bo and Yun Hyong-keun, along with pieces by young Chinese abstract painter Chen Lizhu.
Kukje Gallery plans to show works by Zhang Peili, who held a solo exhibition at its Seoul space last year, as well as Korean Canadian artist Lotus Kang and emerging Korean artists including Park Jin-a, Kim Se-eun and Kim Young-na. Gallery Sklo will present works by Shin Sang-ho, described as a pioneer of contemporary ceramics, along with Lee Sang-min, Kim Nam-doo and Park Sung-hoon. Sun Gallery will show works by Woo Byung-yoon, and Keumsan Gallery will present works by Lee Yoon-jung.
The association is also marking its 50th anniversary with added programming aimed at drawing more visitors. The “solo booth” section, launched last year and drawing strong interest, will feature 19 galleries focusing on a single artist each. Participating artists include Jung Hyun, Moon Hyung-tae, Gil Woo-jung, Woo Byung-chul, Huai Ying and Patrick Hughes.
A separate special exhibition will look back at the Korea Galleries Association’s history and the evolution of the country’s art market. Organizers said it will display materials including the association’s magazine Hwarang Chunchu, early Hwarang Art Fair catalogs, press clippings on the art market and previously unreleased photographs. The exhibition will also feature interviews with seven former association chairmen, tracing the group’s growth, changes in the art market and key turning points.
Lee said of the second consecutive year of participation that he felt “Korean galleries raised the level of the Chicago art fair.” He said the association is exploring ways to expand into overseas markets including Singapore. “It’s true that going overseas comes with a heavy financial burden,” he said, adding that he expects government support to expand once the Art Promotion Act takes effect.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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