Frieze, the world's most prestigious art fair along with Art Basel, finished its Seoul debut. This Frieze was held for the first time in Asia after London, New York and LA. This art fair was an ambitious challenge for the Korean art world, dreaming of becoming a leader in the Asian art market.
Frieze officials shouted “Wonderful Korea”, saying that Seoul will surpass New York and LA when the market on the first day is over. President Frieze could not hide his excitement, saying, “I will come to Korea for the next 10 years.”
In Frieze Seoul, 110 famous galleries representing the world gathered monumental masterpieces brought together and held a festival of stars. Although it was a short four-day schedule, the world art world went to Korea, and the overseas reporters who visited Korea were busy trying to break the myth of Frieze Seoul's jackpot.
The world's leading galleries visited Korea But Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, and David Zwirner, which are called the world's three major galleries, were the cream of the crop.
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| ▲ Gerhard Richter, Candle-light, 1984, Oil on canvas, 200.3 x 179.7 cm, Gagosian, Photo by Eyeon Choi. |
Gagosian
Gagosian Gallery is the world's No.1 gallery with 19 branches around the world. The Gagosian Gallery features works by Georg Baselitz, Damien Hirst, Urs Fischer, Christo, Richard Serra, Takashi Murakami, and Richard Prince.
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| ▲ Helen Frankenthaler, Etruscan Walk, 1978, Acrylic on canvas, 161.3 x 240 cm, Gagosian Photo by Eyeon Choi. |
Gagosian’s works had already been 'pre-ordered' before the opening of the exhibition. and Works by Nam June Paik, Gerhard Richter, Takashi Murakami, Jonas Wood and Stanley Whitney found their owners on the first day.
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| ▲ Nam Jun Paik, untiled(Bakelite Robot), 2002, Single-channel video, LCD monitor, Bakelite radios, electrick lights, media player, and permanent oil maeker, 138.4 x 132.7 x 19 cm, Gagosian. Photo by Eyeon Choi. |
German abstract master Gerhard Richter's 1984 work 'candle-light', which has been highly anticipated since its entry, sold for $15 million. On the front opposite Gerhard, 'Etruscan Walk (1978 work) by Helen Frankenthaler, a second-generation American abstract expressionist feminist painter, was hung.
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| ▲ John Currin, Wanderer, 2022, Oil on canvas, 46 x 55.9 cm, Gagosian. Photo by Eyeon Choi. |
Hauser & Wirth
Hauser & Wirth, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, is a global art market leader with offices in 13 locations around the world including the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Hauser & Worth, which entered the domestic art market for the first time along with Gagosian, aroused expectations from its participation.
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| ▲ George Condo, Red Portrait Composition, 2022, Oil on Linen, 215.9 x 228.6 cm,Hauser & Wirth, Photo by Eyeon Choi. Louise Bourgeois, Gray Fountain, 1970-1971, Gray marbler and steel, 28.5 Oil on Linen 55.8 x 116.8 cm, Hauser & Wirth, Photo by Eyeon Choi. |
The gallery brought out a large-scale new work by George Condo and became the center of attention from the first day. Because of this, the booths of the gallery were crowded like a market. George Kondo's $2.8 million oil painting 'Red Portrait Composition' was purchased by a private art museum in Korea.
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| ▲ Nicolas Party, Clouds, 2022, Soft pastel on linen, 99.1 x 88.9 x 3.2 cm,Hauser & Wirth, Photo by Eyeon Choi. |
The booth also featured works by famous artists such as ouise Bourgeois, ike Kelley, nicolas Party, and Rashid Johnson.
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| ▲ Jason Rhoades, Nom Korean Bedroom Idol, 2006, Palette-shaped leather blotter, L’Aiglon stretch belt, found neon, GTO cable, 6 silicone end caps, 120V Ventex transformer, 3 ceramic donkeys, blue cummberbund, pink bowtie, pink ribbon, white halter top, black ribbon, camel saddle stool, orange extension cord 236.2 x 61 x 40.6 cm, Hauser & Wirth, Photo by Eyeon Choi. |
The work of Nicolas Party, which is in the spotlight in the global art market, also gained popularity among visitors. The clouds, water and reflection in the work symbolize a kind of eternal time, the continuous flow of time.
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| ▲ Rashid Johnson, Surrender Painting “No Worries”, 2022, Oil on Linen, 121.9 x 91.4 x 4.3 cm, Hauser & Wirth, Photo by Eyeon Choi. |
Jason Rhoades' unique installation of a neon sign that reads 'Karaoke' in Korean also drew a lot of attention. It was hung in the artist's studio near Korea Town. Jason Rhoades is an artist who mainly explores the concepts of labor, capital, materiality, and modernism.
Rashid Johnson's work, which captures the moment of history, was made during the global pandemic and suggests a feeling of acceptance and reconciliation.
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| ▲ Katherine Bernhardt, Tree, 2021, Acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 304.8 x 243.8 cm, David Zwirner, Katherine Bernhardt posed with her son. Photo by Eyeon Choi. |
David Zwirner
David Zwiner, which started in Soho, New York and has seven branches around the world, is one of the biggest players in the global art market. Works by prominent Japanese artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Katherine Bernhardt, and Rose Wylie were presented.
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| ▲ Yayoi Kusama, Dwelling of Love, 2016, Acrylic on canvas, 194 x 194 cm, Photo by Eyeon Choi. |
Star artist Katherine Bernhardt, who visited the exhibition with her son, greeted many Korean fans in front of her work, which became a topic of discussion.
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| ▲ Hauser & Wirth & Infinity-Nets ,2018, Acrylic on canvas, 162.6 x 130.5 cm, David Zwirner, Photo by Eyeon Choi. |
and by Yayoi Kusama, a small Asian giant, were also crowded with many spectators. Visitors are taking a seated shot in front of Rose Wylie's large-scale work , which made his name known for his domestic exhibition early last year.
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| ▲ Rose Wylie, Michael Jackson, 2018, Oil on canvas, 184 x 323.5 cm, David Zwirner, Photo by Eyeon Choi. |
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