Art in Seoul: сентября 2011

среда, 28 сентября 2011 г.

Jean-Michel Othoniel “My Way” at PLATEAU

PLATEAU, one of Samsung’s Museums of Art, is situated in the heart of Seoul. It was known as Rodin Gallery, but few months ago reopened under the new name. These days it exposes two Rodin’s masterpieces (“The Gates of Hell” and “The Burghers of Calais”) permanently and has various contemporary art exhibitions too.

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Takashi Kuribayashi “In Between” at Beyond Museum

My first thought when I entered the museum was “OMG such a wonderful space”. So white, so mysterious, so incredible. This is the first personal Japanese artist Takashi Kuribayashi, whose interest is the conception of a border. In his young years he used to spend much time at the seaside or mountains, and now he tries to look into relationships which exist in “between” of different types of substances or spaces.

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понедельник, 26 сентября 2011 г.

Korean International Art Fair in COEX

Today was the last day of Korean International Art Fair (KIAF), which remarks 10th anniversary. It has grown into one of Asia's leading art fair. This year it presented 192 galleries, 17 of them is Australian - this is country-guest of honor of this year. Totally there's 17 countries participating, includes Germany, China, Japan, USA, UK, Russia and, for sure, Korea.
This days KIAF is one of the biggest art events of the year in Korea and great opportuniry to see the situation at the world art market.
The usual venue of KIAF is COEX at Samsong station, the largest shopping mall in Seoul.

As for me, the exhibit was such a glory ofJulien Opie. This artist is so popular in Korea, and in comparing with last year's KIAF it seems that number of his works has been increased. Many galleries at the Fair had at least one Opie's piece.

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среда, 21 сентября 2011 г.

Epic of Units at Gallery Hyundai

Very “women” exhibition. It includes the works of Lee Sookyung, who uses ceramic trash as the main material and makes a new fantastic form; Yayoi Kusama, “queen of polka dots,” Japanese artists, one of the most extravagant figure of New York’s art scene in 60’s; an installation with a thousand keys by Jean Shin; and fragile ice-looking naphthalene objects from Aiko Miyanaga.

Directions: Anguk st., line 3, exit 1. Walk straight and turn right before Gyonbok palace wall.

Entrance fee: free

Thru October, 2

www.galleryhyundai.com

Kang Ik Joong’s Retrospective at POSCO Art Museum

A retrospective exhibition of Kang Ik Joong, translator and interpreter of Korean tradition, is happening now at the POSCO Art Museum. This artist received the special prize of Venice Biennale in 1997. He also created a work consisting of 65,000 small paintings. These paintings are in dialogue with Nam Jun Paik’s television tower “The more, the better” at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, which was on exhibit two years ago. Now his works are represented in museums such as Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, the Ludwig Museum, Cologne, and the Leeum Samsung Art Museum, Seoul.

At this exhibition we can see his famous works, including image of moon jar, one of the most beautiful artifacts of Korean ceramic history, and see him rethinking traditional subjects of Korean art, sometimes in surprising sides. The museum space is small, but outside the POCSO Center is a great contemporary painting and sculpture collection, permanently displayed around and inside the building. It includes the works of Frank Stella and the most important Korean artists such as Nam-Jun Paik, Lee Ufan, Kim Jong Hak, etc.

Directions: Sollueng st, line 2, exit 1, or Samsong st., line 2, exit 4. Walk straight 7 min. POSCO Center, 2F.

Entrance fee: free

Thru September, 28

www.poscoartmuseum.org

Joo Myung Duk’s “My Motherland: Although There is Nothing Left” Photography Exhibition at Daelim museum

If you’re interested in Korean tradition, you definitely should visit the Daelim museum. This photographer is one of the oldest and most respected in Korea. He is trying to preserve the traditional appearance of his country, which began to change after industrialization and modernization. He says: “I just wish that I could deliver entirely my fertile motherland deeply kept in the heart of our people through my photography.” This sentiment is evident in his portrayal of the simple beauty of traditional houses, silent landscapes, ordinary peasant life, and all the charming moments of traditional life, which are going to disappear in the new Korean realities. His work is considered as a saving of cultural heritage.

This exhibit is a part of museum’s project, “Communicate with the Super Creators,” which also includes the exhibitions of Karl Lagerfeld and Finn Juhl.

The exciting thing about the Daelim museum is their system of membership. You can pay 10,000 won and get a membership card, which provides the opportunity to visit 4 exhibitions of your choice, visit two jazz performances, and have 2 cups of coffee. You can ask for membership at the information desk.

How to get there: Gyonbok-gung st., line 3, exit 4. Walk 5 min. along the Gyonbok palace wall. Museum is on the left.

Entrance fee: 5,000 won

Thru September, 25

www.daelimmuseum.org