Charity auction to support local artists, youths
By Ines Min
The second annual philanthropic art auction will kick off Friday with a week-long exhibition preview of its largest collection yet at the Arko Art Museum in Daehangno, central Seoul.
The 2010 Artist Charity Auction, organized by the Arts Council Korea, sees an increase in participating artists with the number of auctioned works growing to 183 from the 20 showcased last year. This year’s list of contributors includes well-known artists such as Yoon Jung-sik, acclaimed director Song Il-gon and popular singer Naul.
After on-site sales during the exhibition period through Oct. 28, the final auction will take place on Oct. 29 at K Auction in Sinsa-dong with all proceeds donated to the Community Chest of Korea. The profits will be spent toward funds for medical expenses for struggling artists, supporting social welfare and expanding art education programs for youths in low-income sectors. Partial proceeds will also be donated from the currently ongoing 10th Seoul Performing Arts Festival, Daegu International Opera Festival 2010, and a literature publishing event that took place in August.
``I started preparing my work last year because I wanted to join in this significant`` event where artists help artists,’’ said veteran
Yoon, whose ``Height Height Fly’’ will be on sale during the auction sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Korea Business Council for the Arts. A total of 61 artists will be contributing, from professionals to celebrities and amateur artists.
I hope that this will become an opportunity for the culture of philanthropy to take root in the art world through this great opportunity to revive artists’ talents in society,’’ said oil painter Shin Yang-seob.
Director Song, the first Korean to win an award at Cannes in 1999, will be exhibiting an ink-jet print entitled ``Goddess Selling Balloons,’’ while Lee Lee-nam, recent recipient of this year’s Sun Art Award from the eponymous gallery, will display his video ``Nature’s Song.’’
Legendary domestic artists and names from
abroad will join in the charitable festivities, with artwork cameos being made by Joseon Kingdom-writer Sochi Heo-ryeon, contemporary author Kim Dong-ni, and traditional ink-painter and sacred image-creator Woonbo Kim Ki-chang. Overseas names include Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, known for her repetitive patterns, and Israeli sculptor David Gerstein, whose metal and mixed media works adorn both indoor and outdoor venues.
Forty-eight galleries contributed to this year’s auction, including the Galleries Association of Korea and Gana Art Gallery, and four private collectors, including the chairman of the Arts Council Korea Oh Kwang-su.
Online bidding opened to the public last week and will continue through the auction. For more information, visit www.arko.or.kr/auction/2010/main.html (Korean only) or call (02) 760-4753~4754.
inesmin@koreatimes.co.kr