The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea has declared Kwon Byung-jun as winner of the Korea Artist Prize 2023 for presenting unique art of his own that delves into humanity and explores a world where people and robots coexist. “Kwon Byung-jun has presented beautiful work that uses an immersive robot theater approach to raise questions about the expansive potential of human communities,” said Kim Sung-hee, director of MMCA. Kwon is the first artist to receive the awar

Arts & Design Feb. 12, 2024

An exploration of how architecture matters in people’s lives will be a key exhibition at Seoul Museum of Art this year as the museum looks forward to renovating its main branch in downtown Seoul. Four exhibitions on architecture will be presented throughout the year starting with the thematic exhibition “Space Time Scenarios” and a solo exhibition of Pritzker-winning British architect Norman Foster in April at the museum’s Seosomun main branch. “Norman Foster’

Arts & Design Feb. 7, 2024

For its first exhibition of the year, Perrotin Seoul is presenting a solo exhibition of Lee Sang-nam, an artist who, with roots in conceptual minimalism, has developed his art in different ways throughout his 40-year career. Lee, 70, moved to New York in 1981 to explore his own art in the global art scene after graduating from Korea’s prestigious art school Hongik University. The city's vibrant art scene shocked the artist who had stuck with conceptual minimalism up until then. In New

Arts & Design Feb. 6, 2024

Viewing Japanese artist Minoru Nomata’s paintings, one may feel as though they were hovering between reality and illusion. One wonders if the architecture depicted in them actually exists. The exhibition “Far Sights” is the artist’s first show in Seoul, spanning two decades of his career. It brings together paintings, including the “Eastbound” series from the late 1990s, which draws from the prevailing influence of “Eastern aesthetics and “Japonism

Arts & Design Feb. 5, 2024

This is a good time of year to discover Korean artists that you might not know of, both emerging and established, and see their new works in Seoul. Several international and Korean galleries are putting on interesting exhibitions of Korean artists as the new year starts. Here is a round-up of notable shows. “Wonderland” at Lehmann Maupin The American gallery is holding an exhibition of works by four Korean-born artists – You Gui-mi, Nahm Hyun, Yim Mie and Ken Gun Min –

Arts & Design Feb. 3, 2024

Different players spanning the Korean art scene came together Wednesday in Seoul to discuss plans for presenting Korean art at the upcoming Venice Biennale, where more than 50 Korean artists are to be shown. It was an unprecedented joint press conference held ahead of the global art event with the participation of a government entity, a museum, commercial galleries, art foundations and the Gwangju Biennale. The joint press conference was led by Arts Council Korea, the commissioner of the Korean

Arts & Design Feb. 1, 2024

Experimental art in Korea from the 1960s to 1970s has received little attention compared to other Korean art genres despite its unique place in Korean art history. Setting the art genre in the global context for international audiences was a recent exhibition at Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York co-organized with the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. The exhibition “Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s-1970s” ended its four-month run at the Gug

Arts & Design Jan. 31, 2024

South Korea will co-host the 10th edition of the World Summit on Arts and Culture next year, bringing together more than 400 experts and artists from across the world to discuss cultural issues and seek cultural cooperation among countries. The summit is organized by the International Federation of Arts Council and Culture Agencies which holds world summits around the world to debate complex issues of the time with cultural leaders. South Korea was chosen unanimously by the 13 delegates in Oct

Arts & Design Jan. 30, 2024

HONG KONG -- International gallery Hauser & Wirth has cemented its presence in Hong Kong with its move to a new location in the Central District last week. The three-story space is easily sighted and accessed. “We wanted to be on the street level and we wanted to stay in the center," the Swiss gallery’s Managing Partner Asia Elaine Kwok told The Korea Herald on Jan. 23 at the new space in Hong Kong. "This is a really fantastic space – not only it is on the groun

Arts & Design Jan. 29, 2024

Hong Kong -- Two performers in lion costumes made their way across European gallery Hauser & Wirth’s newly opened space in Hong Kong on Wednesday, dancing to the drumbeat and clashing cymbals. The dancing lions plucked green heads of lettuce hung on a pole and spread them across the exhibition space, private showroom and office, as part of a traditional ritual performance in Hong Kong to bring good luck and fortune to a new space. It was accompanied by a roast pig cutting ceremony. Hau

Arts & Design Jan. 25, 2024

Sculptor Kim Yun-shin will work with two leading galleries, American gallery Lehmann Maupin and Kukje Gallery in Seoul, marking her first partnerships with commercial galleries the six decades of her artistic career. The 88-year-old artist had her inaugural institutional solo exhibition in South Korea at the Nam-Seoul Museum of Art in 2023, with “Kim Yunshin: Towards Oneness” comprehensively showcasing her work. The exhibition reignited both renewed and belated interest in the artist

Arts & Design Jan. 19, 2024

Butter in Gangnam At a glance, the shop looks like a toy store, making passersby wonder how it manages to pay rent in this prime retail area, less than a five-minute walk from bustling Gangnam Station. But it doesn’t take long to figure out that the shop, Butter, stays afloat selling household goods. Almost every item on the shelves or hanging on the walls features characters including those from children’s movies such as animated comedy “Minions.” From stationery and hom

Culture Jan. 19, 2024

French luxury brand Dior’s iconic Lady Dior handbag has reinvented itself since its first debut on Princess Diana’s arm in 1995. It had been given as a gift by the first lady of France. The bag has since become one of the most beloved handbags around the world. Since 2016, the fashion house has collaborated with artists, recreating its iconic bag into works of art. Marking its eighth edition, the Dior Lady Art project collaborated with 12 artists from around the world, including Kore

Arts & Design Jan. 17, 2024

Numerous painstaking depictions of each blade of grass, flower and plant fill 59 canvases that are pieced together to create a complete work that is more than 12 meters long and fills the wall from floor to ceiling. It’s a rare experience to feel awe while standing in front of an artwork, but Lee Kwang-ho’s large-scale painting of a New Zealand wetland at Kukje Gallery is overwhelming. Lee could not recall how many brushes he has at his studio when asked during an interview with The

Arts & Design Jan. 14, 2024

Templestay at Naesosa Immerse yourself in Buddhist culture by starting the day with prostrations and the sound of the “moktak,” a wooden percussion instrument used by Buddhist monks. Naesosa, a temple in Buan County, North Jeolla Province, has a staff dedicated to assist overseas visitors who want to take part in its templestay program. A total of 137 temples of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism offer three types of templestay programs: One-day programs, experience-oriented programs

Culture Jan. 12, 2024