Korean contemporary art introduced in Mideast

Standard Chartered Korea sponsors ‘Korean Eye’ that showcases Korean artwork in Abu Dhabi


A group of Korean contemporary artists and their works are being introduced in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, through an exhibition titled “Korean Eye: Energy and Matter.”

The exhibition, sponsored by Standard Chartered, a leading global financial group, presents 19 works by 14 established and emerging contemporary Korean artists including Kang Hyung-koo, Shin Mee-kyoung and Bahk Seon-ghi, said Korean Eye, a non-profit organization that promotes Korean contemporary art worldwide.

Also being showcased are new works by four Korean artists, such as Lee Rim and Kim Ayoung, selected by Korean Eye. In conjunction with the event, works by two noted artists from the UAE are also featured, it added.

The Abu Dhabi Korean Eye exhibition is a follow-up to a preview at the National Assembly in Seoul last September, and the exhibition with the same title at the New York Museum of Arts and Design from November to February.

The exhibition which opened March 18 in the lobby of the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Hotel in Abu Dhabi runs through April 25.

“Our aim is to internationally showcase an impressive palette of Korean contemporary art that displays a statement on life and reality and a sense of shared history and culture. I hope the exhibition will be an opportunity to newly introduce Korean art to the art world in the UAE,” said Serenella Ciclitira, co-founder and chief curator of Korean Eye.

A series of exhibitions on contemporary Korean artists have been sponsored and financially supported by Standard Chartered Korea since 2009, as part of its efforts to “internationally raise awareness of Korean art and the Korean brand.”

“Korean Eye is a fantastic opportunity for Standard Chartered to leverage its unique international footprint to showcase Korea,” said Richard Hill, president and CEO of Standard Chartered Korea Financial Group and Standard Chartered Bank Korea.

“We are proud to serve as a bridge between Korea and the rest of the world not only in business but also culture,” he added.

Previously, “Korean Eye: Moon Generation” was held in London for three months in 2009, receiving an enthusiastic public response. Another series, “Korean Eye: Fantastic Ordinary,” was held in Seoul in 2010 when Korea hosted the G20 Summit. The same exhibition also took place in July at the Saatchi Gallery in London and at the Arts House in Singapore in October.

Over 700,000 visitors so far have visited Korean Eye exhibitions, officials said.

Standard Chartered will sponsor another Korean Eye exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London this year when the city hosts the Summer Olympics. In addition to the exhibition, Standard Chartered in Korea supports the development and publishing of catalogues, books, and digital applications to help promote understanding and awareness of Korean art.

By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)