Art enthusiasts in Seoul have plenty to explore this weekend as the city's vibrant cultural scene continues following the successful Seoul Art Week in early September. The week-long celebration, which coincided with two major international art fairs - Frieze Seoul and Kiaf Seoul - created the perfect opportunity for art lovers to experience diverse exhibitions across the city. Now, as autumn settles in, several outstanding exhibitions remain open for those seeking to continue their artistic journey.

One of the most compelling shows currently on display is "Dialogue: Unread" at Hwigyumjae, a traditional Korean house designated as Seoul Hanok Cultural Property No. 14 in the historic Bukchon neighborhood. This exhibition showcases the work of 10 emerging Korean artists and delves into the complex history of the area by examining Japan's colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945. The venue itself carries significant historical weight, having been owned by a pro-Japanese collaborator during the colonial period.

Among the featured works, media artist Jeong Jae-yeon presents pieces that reflect on personal experiences and public sentiment surrounding the former Government-General of Korea Building - the Japanese colonial authorities' primary administrative headquarters - and its eventual demolition. Artist Shin Min contributes sculptural installations of female figures titled "Archangels," and in her statement, she notes how "Hwigyumjae is a historical site that was owned by a pro-Japanese collaborator, and that context creates a rupture in the narrative of this work." The exhibition, which runs through Monday, is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Arts Management Service as part of an annual program launched in 2019 to foster mutual growth between promising artists and galleries.

In southern Seoul's Gangnam district, Gladstone Gallery is hosting "Ugo Rondinone: in beauty bright," featuring 13 new landscape paintings by the renowned Swiss artist. Each watercolor work presents different arrangements of the same five pastel tones - pink, blue, yellow, purple, and green - while maintaining consistent compositions that portray mountain lakes using just four simple lines. Born in 1964, Rondinone spent his childhood surrounded by the natural beauty of Switzerland's alpine lakes, and his extensive body of work often draws inspiration from the natural world without adopting strict naturalism.

Paula Tsai, a partner at Gladstone Gallery, explained to The Korea Herald that "Ugo Rondinone decided which works to show in that exhibition - it was really centered on the storytelling aspect." This Seoul exhibition follows Rondinone's largest solo show in South Korea, which took place at Museum San in 2024, where he explored themes of life, death, and rebirth through 40 works created over three decades. The current exhibition at Gladstone Gallery will remain open until October 18.

Meanwhile, Frieze House Seoul has opened its inaugural exhibition titled "UnHouse," where each room within the space unfolds as a unique narrative designed to encourage visitors to explore different perspectives and step into new viewpoints. The exhibition brings together internationally renowned artists who engage with queer perspectives alongside emerging Korean voices, creating a dialogue between established and rising talent in the contemporary art world.

The "UnHouse" exhibition is thoughtfully organized around four central themes: Body/Identity, Space/Power, Relation/Care, and Memory/Transmission. These themes present layered reflections on the concept of home, particularly relevant in today's social climate. The venue itself - a long-abandoned residential building - becomes part of the artistic experience, with elements such as staircases, tiled windows, corridors, and ceilings woven into the artworks to invite audiences to experience the notion of home from unexpected and thought-provoking angles.

The exhibition features an impressive roster of artists including Joeun Kim Aatchim, Choi Ha-neyl, Lee Dong-hyun, Anne Imhof, Em Kettner, Dan Kim, Dew Kim, Kim Min-hoon, Rebecca Ness, Catherine Opie, Grim Park, P. Staff, Willa Wasserman, and Xiyadie. Curated by Kim Jae-seok and directed by Andy St. Louis, the exhibition will remain open until October 2. In his curatorial statement, Kim emphasizes the political significance of the work, noting that "in the current Korean context, where discourses on gender, sexuality and the legalization of same-sex marriage have become increasingly volatile, to revisit the concept of home through queerness is not merely symbolic but profoundly political." These three exhibitions offer Seoul's art community and visitors a rich tapestry of contemporary artistic expression that continues the momentum built during the city's recent art week celebrations.