Event Provides Insight into Country's Art Market Amidst Slowdown

Courtesy of Galleries Association of Korea

The Galleries Art Fair 2024, South Korea's oldest art fair, is set to commence on April 3 at COEX in southern Seoul. The event, running until April 7, will feature participation from 153 galleries, including leading names like Gallery Hyundai, Kukje Gallery, and Hakgojae, alongside junior and emerging galleries.

Hwang Dal-sung, president of the Galleries Association of Korea, expressed caution regarding the art market's recent slowdown, particularly since the Kiaf Seoul last year. As the first major art fair of the year, the Galleries Art Fair offers insights into the upcoming trends and dynamics of the art market.

This year, the association implemented measures to ensure the fair's quality by limiting the number of artists presented by each gallery's booth. 

▲ An installation view of the Galleries Art Fair 2023 in Seoul / Courtesy of Galleries Association of KoreaSpecial programs for Korean artists include "Zoom-in Edition 5," showcasing 10 emerging artists aged 39 or younger, with three artists set to receive awards based on fairgoers' votes and evaluations by judges. Over 570 artists applied for this program.

Gallery Hyundai will spotlight Korea's pioneering experimental artists, featuring works by Lee Kang-so and Lee Kun-yong, while Kukje Gallery will present pieces by renowned artists such as Jean-Michel Othoniel, Candida Hofer, and Kim Hong-seok, both from home and abroad.

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Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com