Frieze is being held in Seoul for the first time in Asia
Thousands of world masterpieces in one place; Pablo Picasso, Roy Fox Lichtenstein and more

The above photo was provided by UPIKorea.

Sayart.net

Jason Yim yimjongho1969@gmail.com

 

Frieze, one of the world's three largest art fairs, has landed in Korea. Koreans call Frieze SEOUL “the largest art festival since Dangun”. The dungeon is Korea's first leader and an ancestor who first established a state on the Korean Peninsula about 5,000 years ago.

Frieze SEOUL opened simultaneously with KIaf SEOUL, the largest art fair in South Korea, at COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul on September 2. Long before the opening time of 2 pm, the entrance to the venue was crowded with many people who had gathered to watch.

Frieze, which has been held only in world art centers such as London, New York and Los Angeles, is now being held in Asia for the first time. So many art experts have said that the future of the Korean art market depends on the success or failure of Frieze Seoul. 

▲ Frieze SEOUL 2022, Photo by Jason Yim

At 2 pm, A war without gunfire started by 110 world-famous galleries.

The Frieze event venue is located in Halls C and D on the 3rd floor of COEX. When the door opened, Masterpieces by masters such as Pablo Picasso, Roy Fox Lichtenstein, David Hockney, and others caught the attention of the audience.

Frieze Seoul is divided into three sections: Main, Masters, and Focus Asia.

The main section is an area where legendary galleries that can be recognized as their own brands in the art world compete.

Gagosian Gallery, the best gallery in the world, has unpacked here. To live up to its reputation, Gagosian has staged works by big names such as Damien Hirst, Georg Baselitz, Urs Fischer, Murakami Takashi and Zeng Fanzhi.

"Hauser & Wirth", a famous German gallery, is putting George Kondo's 'Red Portrait Composition, 2022' to the fore. Eight masterpieces including Philip Guston's oil paintings, Louise Bourgeois, George Condo, and Mark Bradford held the audience's breath for a moment.

The Masters section was also covered with masterpieces. This section brings together some of the most innovative masterpieces in the history of modern and contemporary art. They are the six legends: Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Piet Mondrian, Jean Michel Basquiat, Roy Fox Lichtenstein and David Hockney.

▲ Pablo Picasso's Femme au beret rouge a pompon (1937), photo by Jason Yim

In particular, the 100-year-old Acquavella Galleries are presenting the most expensive works to the public at this festival. It is Pablo Picasso's Femme au beret rouge a pompon (1937), worth $45 million. This booth was crowded all day with spectators taking a commemorative photo in front of Picasso's work.

Castelli Gallery has summoned the master of pop art. Several 1980s works by Roy Fox Lichtenstein, famous for 'Tears', are displayed in the booth. Annely Juda Fine Art was gaining momentum with British pop artist David Hockney at the forefront.

In the Masters section, Korean masterpieces are on display.

To highlight South Korean monochrome artists. Tokyo Gallery touts Korean All-Stars, including Kim Tschang-Yeul, Kim Whan Ki, LEEDONGYOUB, Lee Kang-So, Park SEO-Bo, and Yun Hyong Keun.

GALLRY HYUNDAI introduces works by Quac Insik, Seung-taek Lee, and Park Hyunki, who represent the 20th century Korean avant-garde art. In addition, Hakgojae Gallery exhibits the works of masters such as Nam June Paik and Yun Suknam,

▲ Haegue Yang (b. 1971), Resilience-Powered Balancing Soul Streamer-Mesmerizing Mesh #120, 2022, Hanji on alu-Dibond, framed 92 x 62 cm, KUKJE GALLERY, Photo by Claire SEO, 

 

KUKJE GALLERY is presenting the 'Blue, all over dot painting' by Kim Whanki, the most expensive artist in Korea.

Like the value of the name Frieze, the world's leading art figures are coming in flocks to Seoul. Richard Armstrong of Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Michael Goburn of LACMA, Suhanya Raphael, director of the HK M+ Musuem, Maria Jane Balshaw of Tate Britain Gallery, and Hans Ulrich Obrist director of Serpentine Galleries are splendid.

It's been a week, but the global art world's eyes focus on South Korea.