European surrealism collections come to Seoul, inviting us to the era where artists sought after the unconscious world.

Galleries Association of Korea calls on Seoul Auction, K Auction to respect market ecosystem

The newly-built upscale department store Galleria in Gwanggyo, Gyeonggi Province, was recognized by UNESCO’s annual Prix Versailles Awards, winning the top Prix Versailles 2021 prize in the shopping mall category. The sixth branch of Galleria -- South Korea’s first and major upscale department store franchise founded in the 1970s -- opened in March 2020 in Gwanggyo, a new town just 25 kilometers south of Seoul. The building was designed by OMA, an architectural firm headquartered

South Korea’s art scene has enjoyed an unprecedented booming year in 2021 with art fairs and auction houses seeing record-breaking sales. This trend was backed by emerging younger collectors who are increasingly embracing the arts as part of their culture. The late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s art collection donated to the country also triggered an interest in art, with people lining up to see the artworks given to two national museums. On top of that, internationally renowned ga

“Painting of Intrepidity” unveiled by emeritus professor from Dankook University

CAMP, the Nam June Paik Art Center Prize winner in 2020, shows their newly commissioned work at the exhibition that runs through Feb. 27

National Museum of Korea exhibition highlights artistic, practical elements of lacquer

Leeum Museum of Art will stream its two permanent exhibitions on Naver TV introducing its key collection as well as offer a chance for viewers to visit the exhibitions in person for a special opening of the museum on Dec. 27. One of the country’s top private museums, Leeum Museum of Art has seen an upswing in popularity since reopening on Oct. 8, with reservation time slots allowing 600 people to visit on a daily basis. The museum is currently showcasing two permanent collection shows o

Photographer Cho Eui-hwan has made it his mission to shed light on a lesser-known side of Jeju Island -- their fields. Some 70 photographs of fields across the island that he has captured since 2014 are on display at the Kim Bo Sung Art Center in Pyeongchang-dong, Seoul. Cho’s attraction to the variety of fields on Jeju Island began in 2014 and turned into a three-year stay. Very few know that the popular tourist destination also has many fields, which play an integral role in supporti

A large snake created with life vests is hung from the ceiling of an exhibition hall at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, as if crawling toward the audience. The 140 life vests were once worn by refugees who crossed the ocean from Africa and the Middle East and managed to reach the Greek island of Lesbos, in 2016. Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei connected the life vests of adults and children collected on the island to create “Life Vest Snake,” which i

The legacy of renowned modern sculptor Kwon Jin-kyu (1922-1973) lives on today, serving as a source of inspiration for many young artists. The sculptural masterpieces were recently brought to life by fashion photographer Mok Jung-wook, who creates his own narratives through photographs. 　The exhibition “Images of Eternity: Kwon Jin Kyu × Mok Jungwook” running through Dec. 28 at PKM Gallery in Seoul presents 8 self-portraits and religious sculptures by Kwon along with a

Thaddaeus Ropac Seoul kicked off its second exhibition since its opening in October, unveiling recent floral paintings from American figurative artist Alex Katz who returned to the subject at the beginning of the pandemic last year. Focusing on the artist’s flower paintings, the works painted over the past two years show how the pandemic has influenced his artistic world. Among the flower paintings are “Wild Spring Flowers2,” “Peony” and “Rhododendron on O

Christmas never fails to come. While some here have small family or friend gatherings, others would prefer to fly home overseas and meet loved ones. Expressing gratitude and handing over a small present to your loved ones will be even more encouraging than ever, after years of fighting the pandemic. This year’s booming art market has spilled over to creating a variety of art items at museums or galleries, particularly for younger people whose interest in art has grown in recent years i

Ai Weiwei, whose first large-scale show in Korea opens this week, won’t be here in person

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea and Incheon International Airport Corp. jointly opened the exhibition “Warming-up” at the country’s main gateway, allowing travelers to appreciate works of art during their layover at the airport. The art is part of the collection of the Government Art Bank, which is run by the museum. Some eight works by Korean contemporary artists are shown on the fourth floor of Incheon Airport Terminal 1, where a variety of amenit