Gwangju Biennale encompasses different forms of intelligence

GWANGJU -- Documentary photographic works of a shaman woman removing a bloody ox head mask during a ritual for protecting people from evil and people preparing for a traditional ceremony for their deceased relative are on display at the entrance of the Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall. The photographs are by documentary photographer Lee Gap-chul, who depicts the realms of the real and the unseen. The 13th Gwangju Biennale kicked off Thursday for a 39-day run under the theme of “Min

April 5, 2021

[Herald interview] Gwangju Biennale’s Kim Sun-jung challenges conventions

GWANGJU -- One big change at the 13th Gwangju Biennale is that the public has access to Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall 1, free of charge. It is now an open space for visitors and ticketing as well as an exhibition hall. “I thought it was inconvenient for visitors to purchase tickets and wait outside so I suggested using Exhibition Hall 1 as a meeting place as well as a place to appreciate the artworks,” said Kim Sun-jung, president of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation, during

April 5, 2021

Local artists sell artwork at Lotte Department Store in Gangnam

Works of art are among the items that can now be bought at a department store. Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture said it has opened “S-store” on the fourth floor of Lotte Department Store in Gangnam, Seoul, Friday. A total of 63 artworks by 26 artists are on display at the store. The price of the art pieces ranges from 10,000 won to 1 million won, according to SFAC. The store is part of the SFAC and Lotte Department Store Gangnam’s project to jointly create a structure

April 5, 2021

[Eye Plus] Seoul Araetgil: City life, culture and arts found underground

Euljiro, the very center of Seoul with Subway Line 2 passing through, has the longest underground walkway in South Korea. The 3.3-kliometer underground walkway runs all the way from Seoul City Hall Station, through Euljiro 1-ga Station and on to Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station. It is not just a pedestrian tunnel with a lot of commercial shops, but also d a street where culture and arts co-exist.  Because it is underground, the street offers a pleasant environment to enjoy ex

April 3, 2021

Long-anticipated Gwangju Biennale unfolds for 39 days

GWANGJU -- The 13th Gwangju Biennale was unveiled to the public Thursday with the theme of “Minds Rising, Spirits Tuning” in the city of Gwangju, following two delays since last year due to the sudden outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The long-anticipated art biennale showcases a broad range of 450 works of art from 69 artists and collectives across 40 countries, including more than 40 commissioned works created for the biennale. “Minds Rising, Spirits Tuning” fo

April 2, 2021

Picasso’s ‘Massacre in Korea’ to be shown in Seoul for the first time

A number of masterpieces by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, including “Massacre in Korea,” will be shown in Seoul for the first time in May at an exhibition marking the 140th anniversary of the artist’s birth. The exhibition “Into the Myth,” running from May 1 to Aug. 29 at the Hangaram Arts Center Museum, will feature some 110 works that Picasso completed from the early 1900s to the 1960s, according to the Vichae Art Museum, the organizer of the exhibition. The e

March 30, 2021

Picasso's 'Massacre in Korea' to be exhibited for first time in S. Korea

Pablo Picasso's painting depicting the 1950-53 Korean War will be displayed for the first time in South Korea, an exhibition agency said Monday. The "Massacre in Korea", one of a series of anti-war paintings by the legendary Spanish artist, will be exhibited at the Hangaram Arts Center Museum inside the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul, from May 1 to August 29, according to the organizer, Vichae Art Museum. The painting depicts a group of naked women and children threatened at a

March 29, 2021

[Herald Interview] Installation artist Lee Seul-gi gets playful with metaphors

Korean-born and Paris-based installation artist Lee Seul-gi enjoys using metaphors. She explores metaphors in ordinary objects and different languages through installation works and folkcraft often in collaboration with community artisans. Some of her well-known artworks are her Korean “nubi,” or quilt blanket series, that show diagrammatic designs that are whimsically translated into Korean proverbs. Lee, who recently won the Korea Artist Prize 2020, is currently showing “D

March 29, 2021

[#WeFACE] Creating zero-waste clothes by design

The zero-waste movement has spread rapidly in the global fashion industry. The fashion industry is one of the leading polluters, generating around 10 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions each year, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “I know zero-waste fashion is growing in brands like Nike and Zara, who have released products that reuse materials, but I’ve never bought them,” said Yoon Na-ra, who has been trying to live a zero-waste life for the

March 29, 2021

2021 FW Seoul Fashion Week delivers hope, courage in pandemic times

The 2021 fall-winter Seoul Fashion Week offered courage and hope to global audience members as the pandemic continued to present a challenge. South Korea’s largest fashion week, which kicked off March 22 and attracted thousands of views for each runway show, ended Sunday with the noon finale by Berlin-based Korean DJ Peggy Gou, which was prerecorded at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. A total of 43 designer brands showcased their collections at museums alongsid

March 29, 2021

Installation artist Lee Seul-gi wins Korea Artist Prize 2020

Installation artist Lee Seul-gi has won the Korea Artist Prize 2020, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea announced Thursday. Inspired by traditional craft and folk art, Lee is known for her exploration of the relationship between humans and nature transcending boundaries. For her new work “Dong Dong Dari Gori” on show at the Korea Artist Prize 2020 exhibition at MMCA Seoul, she collaborated with master artisans such as Korean quilters in Tongyeong, South Gyeon

March 27, 2021

Witty artist Choi Suk-un turns to nature in new work

Painter Choi Suk-un captures moments from everyday life, depicting the scenes in his own witty ways. Those who view his paintings would laugh out loud at his wit and creativity. The humor and wit shown in the paintings come from his personality and his belief that an artist and one’s paintings should go hand in hand, representing one another. Otherwise, one or the other is lying, the artist believes. When the pandemic hit, instead of dampening his spirits, it served as inspiration for t

March 24, 2021

Photos of Korean artists of diaspora amid growing racism in US

An exhibition in New York that sheds light on Korean immigrant artists in the US is being held at the Korean Cultural Center New York. The exhibition “Creation Continua: Park Joon Photo Portraits of Korean Artist Diaspora in Greater New York” presents photographs of 50 Korean immigrant artists who came to the US in the latter part of the 20th century and are active in their practice. The photographs were taken by Korean American photographer Park Joon, who moved to the US in 198

March 23, 2021

Seoul Auction to stream live auction on Artsy’s Digital Saleroom

Seoul Auction will host its Spring Sale on Tuesday in Seoul, after its auction events in Hong Kong were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The auction will be streamed live on Artsy’s Digital Saleroom to attract a wider range of global collectors, the auction house said. The auction will start at 4 p.m. on Tuesday at Seoul Auction Gangnam Center in Seoul, and Artsy users who have preregistered can participate in real time. A total of 149 artworks worth about 10 billion won ($8.85

March 22, 2021

Andy Warhol’s works arrive at Hyundai Seoul

The exhibition “Andy Warhol: Beginning Seoul” has arrived in Seoul after touring renowned museums in Italy, showcasing 153 works including drawings and silk-screen prints, as well as the artist’s personal belongings. The event opened Feb. 26 at the Hyundai Seoul, the city’s biggest department store, newly built in the business district of Yeouido.  “I think it is a meaningful exhibition for people as they can appreciate the master’s works owned by t

March 21, 2021

Upcoming virtual Seoul Fashion Week takes it up a notch

The upcoming 2021 fall-winter Seoul Fashion Week, Korea’s largest fashion event, will feature 43 designer brands showcasing their collections at museums alongside artworks and national treasures. “The runways at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, could be considered as an artistic interaction between two artists,” said Seoul Fashion Week Director Jeon Mi-kyung during a press conference held on Wednesday in Seoul. “The runways are filmed quite c

March 17, 2021

Culture Station Seoul 284 explores 2 border towns

Exhibition “Border-less.site,” co-hosted by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation and Junglim Foundation, opened to the public Wednesday at Culture Station Seoul 284, which is the old Seoul Station building. 　 The “Border-less.site” exhibition was developed as part of Culture Station Seoul 284’s regional research and exhibition initiative, following the “DMZ” and “Kaesong Industrial Complex” exhibitions in 2019 and 2018, respectively. T

March 17, 2021

Contemporary masters from Taiwan, China, offer hope

Frustration comes easily in challenging times -- especially amid a pandemic that continues on for more than a year, disrupting our lives and causing a global economic downturn. The first major solo exhibitions of two influential contemporary artists -- Chen Chieh-jen of Taiwan and Yue Minjun of China -- offer comfort and help to relieve depressed feelings in their own ways, presenting either dismal atmospheres or ironic images. Chen’s “Traumatized Body and Transformed Self,&rdqu

March 16, 2021

[#WeFACE] Eco-friendly materials become popular in fashion

The Korea Herald is publishing a series of articles on eco-friendly fashion highlighting new fabrics, manufacturing processes and trends that aim to improve environmental sustainability. - Ed.  Roanna Tan from Singapore found out about Korean vegan fashion brand Marhen J from an advertisement on social media Instagram and decided to make a purchase. The fact that it was made with vegan leather initially drew Tan’s interest but she was also happy with the design and quality. &ldq

March 16, 2021

[Video] Unique designs save the planet

The burning of leftover inventory to preserve brand value is still a common practice in the fashion industry. Other items end up in landfills. But brands are coming up with new ideas to minimize waste and hopefully save the environment. RE;CODE is a South Korean fashion brand launched in 2012 by Kolon Industries. Under the slogan “This is not just fashion,” the brand aims to encourage conscientious purchasing by upcycling deadstock. Choi Young-jin, a senior designer at RE;CODE, dis

March 16, 2021