Our Favorites 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.
Highlights of Frieze Seoul during Seoul Art Week
Nikki S. Lee at Various Small Fires.
Nikki S. Lee at Various Small Fires
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 at A-Lounge.
Soojung Jung at A-Lounge
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.
Hyungkoo Lee at P21.
Hyungkoo Lee at P21
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.
Seund Ja Rhee at Gallery Hyundai.
Seund Ja Rhee at Gallery Hyundai
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 at Silverlens.
Pacita Abad at Silverlens
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.
Alvaro Barrington at Sadie Coles.
Alvaro Barrington at Sadie Coles
The Venezuelan artist paid tribute to Carnival through this mixed-media work made with reclaimed wood, corrugated steel, and burlap.
Ai Weiwei at neugerriemschneider.
Ai Weiwei at neugerriemschneider
Ai Weiwei has been experimenting with a new medium lately—Legos—and this self portrait shows the rebellious Chinese artist in a new way.
Nicolas Party at Hauser & Wirth.
Nicolas Party at Hauser & Wirth
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.
Wendy Park at Various Small Fires.
Wendy Park at Various Small Fires
This Korean-American artist is known for painting her angular depictions of typical Asian food.
Best of Seoul Art Week
Haegue Yang at Kukje Gallery
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.
Yeon Sang-ho’s “Hellbound” at Prada Mode
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.
Dan Acher’s “Borealis.”
Dan Acher
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.”
“Botched Art: The Meanderings of Sung Neung Kyung” at Hyundai Gallery.
Botched Art: The Meanderings of Sung Neung Kyung at Hyundai Gallery
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.
“14-III-72 #223” (1972), Digital expression of Kim Whanki’s painting by VERSEDAY.
Kim Whanki at LG OLED Lounge
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.
