[Arts & Culture] Seoul's largest art fair in town; Kiaf, Frieze Seoul open through weekend

There are many reasons to wait for Fridays and one of them is definitely the Arts and Culture coverage by our dearest Kun-woo.

He's here in the studio with us.

Happy Friday Kun-woo!

Great to be here, Do-yeon!

So what do you have for us today?

If you're interested in art, you'll like today's story.

As Korea's art scene is buzzing with events this month, Korea's largest art fair, Kiaf Seoul, which is collaborating with Frieze Seoul, is taking place at the Coex through this weekend.

On site, works from leading domestic and overseas galleries are on display, bringing in political figures including the first lady and Seoul's mayor, and also celebrities including members of BTS, SEVENTEEN and BLACKPINK.

But before I tell you more, follow me and I'll show you all around.

Wall after wall is filled with creativity.

Creative artwork, from a jumbo sculpture made of half a million Korean pennies to a three-dimensional piece that makes you feel as if it's alive, is exhibited.

To make this happen, the 24th edition of Kiaf Seoul brought together more than 170 galleries, with a third of them from overseas.

Newcomers also joined, reflecting growing interest in Seoul's art market.

"Korea has a very interesting, a real openness to the rest of the world culturally. Very excited to see how we could present our artists and our curation to the local Korean landscape. In Seoul, we are already discussing with other artist curators to actually see how we could potentially work together."

"This art fair showcasing thousands of pieces goes beyond just viewing artwork. It also serves as a marketplace and a platform for networking. At the same time, the organizers are making efforts to encourage developing artists."

Since 2023, Kiaf has been selecting three artists from ten semifinalists, providing both funding and promotion.

One of this year's semifinalists shared why his works drew global attention.

"Because I use traditional Korean materials like 'Muk'과 'Hanji,' my monochrome works stood out among the more colorful pieces. With growing global interest in Korean culture, this sentiment seems to resonate."

Frieze Seoul, which is collaborating with Kiaf for a fourth year, also has works that will appeal to patrons.

One section that draws in eyes is FOCUS ASIA, which showcases artwork by emerging Asian artists and galleries.

"I am expecting to see just a greater focus on Asian artists. I started collecting Korean art a while ago, and I've been to Seoul six times. Seemed like a good opportunity to see a lot of different galleries at once from all over."

Among the highlights was "Floating Rubble," which creates the illusion of rubble suspended in midair.

And works by renowned masters, including Park Seo-bo, also appeared, some re-created digitally for a fresh experience.

Media art installations, including one with the concept of being caught on fire, also drew interest.

With record crowds flocking in on the opening day, the twin art fairs are expected to attract even more through the weekend, making Seoul's art scene livelier than ever.

It looks really interesting.

Just seeing the two fairs collaborating for several years now, I can tell Seoul really seems to be positioning itself as an art hub.

Tell us more.

Yes.

During my visit, I got to realize how many visitors from abroad came not just to enjoy but also to purchase art work at high prices, which shows how global attention is centered on Seoul.

One expert explains what's behind this trend.

"These large-scale art fairs used to be centered in Hong Kong, but with that market shrinking, Seoul has emerged as an alternative backed by the rising value of K-content and Korean culture."

But, we also have to know that the art industry itself is facing challenges with the economy slowing.

While the number of participating galleries at Kiaf slightly shrank this year, the organizers said they tried to focus on quality instead.

And an expert says that can be better in some ways.

"If the fair's larger, it might dilute attention. Hence, the focus on quality helped top-tier works gain more recognition, turning crisis into an opportunity."

And with Kiaf and Frieze pledging to collaborate next year, he said more global partnerships can be expected beyond the twin fairs.

Great to hear that.

And this month I hear there's a lot of exhibitions and art events taking place.

Why's that?

The culture ministry has designated this month as "Art Festival" month.

So there are tons of events you can enjoy in Korea at this time of year.

Please check out more information on the official website, which is also provided in English, Japanese, and Chinese.

Other than the ones I mentioned, there are seven biennales happening in cities across the country, including Gwangju and Cheongju.

The ministry is even offering discount coupons for these fairs of up to 50 percent.

So be sure to check ticketing platforms such as Nol Interpark and Melon Ticket.

Alright, Kun-woo, thanks for all of that.

We'll see you next week.

Thank you.