Frieze and KIAF organizers ready to make 'big statement' for art events' third edition

With just two weeks left until Korea’s most extravagant art fairs kick off, Frieze Seoul and KIAF Seoul revealed highlights that collectors and visitors can expect to see.

Hwang Dal-seung, president of the Galleries Association of Korea, left, and Patrick Lee, director of Frieze Seoul, speak during a news conference for the upcoming KIAF Seoul and Frieze Seoul in central Seoul on Thursday. [NEWS1]

With just two weeks left until Korea’s most extravagant art fairs kick off, Frieze Seoul and KIAF Seoul revealed highlights that collectors and visitors can expect to see.

Frieze Seoul’s director Patrick Lee said Thursday in a news conference that the two events were going to make a “big statement” during their third edition, set to be held jointly at Coex in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, in early September. Lee added that he was “incredibly excited.”

Among the 110 galleries from 32 countries, Frieze will see strong participation from Asian galleries, 31 of which already have branches in Korea. Twenty-three galleries are new to the fair.

Overseas galleries like Gladstone Gallery, Gagosian, Lehmann Maupin, Massimodecarlo, Hauser & Wirth and White Cube, as well as the domestic Gallery Hyundai and Kukje Gallery, were among many that were spotlighted in the conference.

Gallery Hyundai will debut artist Jeon Joon-ho’s first solo presentation in a decade, showcasing his latest works. The works of foreign artists that are set to hold solo exhibitions in notable venues in Korea, such as Anicka Yi at the Leeum Museum of Art and Nicolas Party at the Hoam Museum of Art, will be shown at Frieze Seoul as well, respectively represented by Gladstone and Hauser & Wirth.

This edition debuts Frieze LIVE, which will showcase five performances on poetry and will be delivered by seven artists. The event was curated by Moon Je-yun, project director of the Art Sonje Center, and will feature artists Cha Yeon-sa, Hong Ji-young, Jang Su-mi, Jesse Chun and Kim Won-young & Project YYIN (Rha Si-nae and Choi Ki-sub).

Another section of Frieze Seoul, titled Focus Asia, is dedicated to young galleries that introduce a total of 10 emerging artists. The list of galleries includes G Gallery, Barakat Contemporary, Cylinder, Parcel and Kayokoyuki.

The Frieze Masters section, which displays works made from before the 21st century, will mainly be comprised of Asian galleries this year. Examples include Wooson Gallery, which will present the works of modern artist Lee Myung-mi, Hakgojae Gallery with the likes of Kim Whanki, Nam June Paik and Ryu Kyung-chai, Tokyo Gallery + BTAP with Park Seo-bo and Gana Art with Chang Ucchin.

KIAF Seoul’s organizer, the Galleries Association of Korea, emphasized that it has been “very picky” in selecting participating galleries this year and has expanded the venue space to elevate the overall quality of the fair.

The KIAF Highlights Awards selects three contemporary artists whose latest works are evaluated for “artistic merit, originality and contemporaneity.” The 10 semifinalists are Kang Cheol-gyu, Kim Xi’an, Kim Eun-jin, Paige Jiyoung Moon, Betty Muffler, Seo Won-mi, Jochen Pankrath, Lee Se-jun, Choi Ji-won and Han Jin. The winners will be announced on Sept. 4 and each one will be given prize money of 10 million won ($7,480).

The artworks of the seven art teams at the KIAF onSITE special exhibition this year deal with the relationship between humans and technology, and will consist of media art, installations, performances and virtual reality.

KIAF has also curated two classical music concerts to take place on Sept. 5 and 6 both at 7:30 p.m. at Coex, featuring musicians like pianist Kim Dae-jin and violist Shin Kyung-sik.

The KIAF VIP mobile app allows art collectors to check out the list of participating galleries and their artworks that are on display at the fair. A preview will be available starting Aug. 30.

“Despite an ongoing global recession, the Korean government and the Seoul Metropolitan Government have been helping out so much in fostering local art fairs, especially KIAF,” said Hwang Dal-seung, president of the Galleries Association of Korea, who expressed his confidence in the fair's success.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]