[What to see] Galleries gearing up for upcoming Frieze Seoul

As Frieze Seoul approaches, galleries are bustling with activity as they prepare to showcase their works to art enthusiasts at the annual art fair, which runs from September 4 to 7 this year.

The nation's art scene is entering festive mode, with many exhibitions slated to open at the end of August. Notable examples of galleries embracing this celebratory atmosphere with their exhibitions, include Gallery Baton and Lehmann Maupin in Hannam-dong and Tang Contemporary Art Seoul in Gangnam.

Doki Kim's experimental works at Gallery Baton

An installation view of "The Apple and The Moon" at Gallery Baton in Seoul (Courtesy of the gallery)

Gallery Baton unveiled a new series by Korean experimental artist Doki Kim at the solo exhibition "The Apple and The Moon," featuring her interests that extend to extraterrestrial space.

Kim produces experimental installations, delivering her interpretation of the mechanism of the world while exploring the "phenomena" that occur in the interaction of matter. The title of the exhibition stems from one of Newton’s anecdotes and indicates that even things with completely different attributes are linked by one identical principle.

The exhibition includes Kim's representative works, which embody pixels of a low-resolution media device, and moving images influenced by her pixel-based work. The exhibition runs through Sept. 14.

"Still Livin' Abiding" by Nari Ward (Courtesy the artist and Lehmann Maupin)

Nari Ward's new works at Lehmann Maupin

Another must-visit exhibition that coincides with Frieze Seoul is that of American artist Nari Ward. Ward's second exhibition at Lehmann Maupin features works addressing the aspects of healing and care that shape local communities — specifically those in Harlem, the artist’s longtime neighborhood in New York.

Encompassing his copper panel works, sculpture and wall-based installations, the exhibition approaches complex topics prevalent in the socio-political fabric of the United States while also addressing issues that resonate on a global level, according to the gallery.

The artist etches and marks the copper surfaces with everyday materials found around Harlem. The series "Still Livin’" and "Restin’" on view at the exhibition expand his interest in copper as an energetic material. The exhibition runs until Oct. 19.

An installation view of "My Universe" at Tang Contemporary Art Seoul (Courtesy of the gallery)

Woo Kuk-won's sarcastic fairy tale at Tang Contemporary Art Seoul

Based in Seoul, Woo Kuk-won explores the gap between reality and fantasy, working mainly with oil paints as well as drawings on paper and installations. The exhibition shows the artist's newly created works, in which he builds up thick layers of paint to emphasize the materiality of the medium.

His works combine cruel fairy tale scenes and roughly scribbled famous words with his natural gift of color. After growing up, the artist discovered the cruelty hidden behind seemingly beautiful fairy tales, prompting him to reinterpret the world from a new perspective according to the gallery.

The exhibition includes paintings by Woo with backgrounds inspired by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849). Curated by Yonni Park and Hong Jee-eun, the exhibition runs through Saturday.

By Park Yuna(yunapark@heraldcorp.com)