The 13 Best Works from Frieze Seoul and Seoul Art Week

Frieze Seoul opened its second edition at COEX on September 6 with 100 galleries from across the globe exhibiting at the art fair until September 9. Korea’s attempts at spreading its culture around the world through its cuisine, beauty products, K-pop, and K-drama have proved to be a success, and its art scene is no different, with contemporary Korean artists earning the spotlight in recent years. The exchange of art not only brings international artists to a Korean platform, it also puts a spotlight on Korean art to an audience of art enthusiasts, collectors, gallerists, artists, and curators. Here are some of the highlights of Frieze Seoul and Seoul Art Week.

Nikki S. Lee made her mark in the late ‘90s and early 2000s as the Korean Cindy Sherman through her irreverent costumed self-portraits. Various Small Fires, which also has a location in Seoul, is bringing her work back for the next generation. 

Soojung Jung made a name for herself as one of Korea’s top emerging painters through her ethereal brush strokes. Her dreamy paintings earned her the cover of Frieze’s September issue last year. 

Korea has one of the biggest plastic surgery industries in the world, and even though this photo was taken in 2010, it still remains relevant today.

Seundja Rhee, one of the premier female abstractionists in Korea, was known for her colorful geometric abstractions that incorporated Korean symbols. Google even celebrated her 98th birthday in 2016 with a tribute doodle. 

Pacita Abad was a prolific artist and nomad who created work across six continents during her lifetime. This lush painting represents a joyful, happy aspect of the late Filipino artist Abad’s vast oeuvre. 

The Venezuelan artist paid tribute to Carnival through this mixed-media work made with reclaimed wood, corrugated steel, and burlap.

Ai Weiwei has been experimenting with a new medium lately—Legos—and this self portrait shows the rebellious Chinese artist in a new way.

The Swiss artist just opened a solo exhibition at Hauser & Wirth New York and the gallery brought the traction to Asia with a 2018 painting to Frieze Seoul. 

This Korean-American artist is known for painting her angular depictions of typical Asian food. 

Berlin-based Korean artist Haegue Yang’s “Latent Dwelling,” on view through October 8, uses Chinese medicine, flickering candles, and everyday items to fill Kukje Gallery’s Hanok (a traditional Korean house) before the gallery transforms it to an exhibition space. 

Step into Yeng Sang-ho’s psychological thriller in this site-specific installation that was exhibited at Prada Mode. Those who ventured were invited to trace the clues that led to the death of fictional character Jeong Jin-Soo. 

If you’ve never seen the Northern Lights, now is your chance. Dan Acher’s ephemeral work Borealis will be executed from 7pm to 11pm against the Zaha Hadid-designed DDP through September 10. “There's that aspect where I create the situation where we come together beyond our differences,” said the Swiss artist. “So there's this question, but then it's also about climate change.”

The octogenarian artist Sung Neung Kyung is having a moment with works at Frieze, a solo exhibition at Hyundai Gallery, and works in the Guggenheim’s current exhibition, “Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s-1970s.

The late KimWhanki pioneered Korean abstraction, and this stand exhibits 12 of his paintings alongside digital versions reimagined by a new generation of artists with the LG OLED.