By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Hotels are now becoming popular venues for art fairs in New York, Miami, Tokyo, Osaka and other cities in Europe. Interesting and quirky artworks are displayed in plush hotel rooms, instead of galleries and museums.
Seoul will have a chance to experience the hotel art fair with the 2nd Asia Top Gallery Hotel Art Fair to be held from Aug. 21 to 23 at the Grand Hyatt Seoul.
``Unlike typical art fairs that exhibit artwork in white cubes, the AHAF installs its artwork in diverse ways like pictures on beds and sculptures installed in bathtubs. This approach provides innovative and fun ways for patrons and collectors to view works of art,'' organizers said.
The Asia Art Net committee is hoping this event will become one of the leading art fairs in Asia. About 70 top Asian galleries from Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan will be participating in this year's art fair in Seoul. The first AHAF was held at the New Otani Hotel in Tokyo, while next year's event will be in Shanghai.
``Like in New York and Miami, brand new art fairs have been held in the various parts of the U.S.A., using hotel and motel rooms. Also in Europe like in Berlin, the new concept of hotel art fair has been introduced and been popular to the public. In Japan, the DoJima Art fair of Osaka celebrated its sixth art fair this year, and the Agnes Hotel Art Fair has been quite successful each year,'' organizers said.
However, unlike these art fairs that only focus on artists from the city, the Asia Top Gallery Hotel Art Fair 09 includes works by artists from different Asian countries.
One of the highlights is an exhibition of work by renowned Korean artist Lee U-Fan, in collaboration with Shimoda Kenzi, who has collected Lee's works for 30 years. Lee's evolution as an artist can be shown through the works that range from early pieces to more recent efforts.
Celebrities Naul and Minki Zio will also show off their artworks in a special exhibition. Zio, who now works as a photographer, has opened a studio and just published his first photo book. Singer Naul, a member of pop group Brown Eyed Seoul, has an arts background having majored in fine arts in college.
Artist and author Jemma Han will conduct a special lecture during the art fair. Han will also present her doll series in a special exhibition ``Jemma's Room.''
``(In the exhibition) it is possible to contemplate her doll series, harmonized with the stuff of the daily life, like lights, carpets and cushions. The stereotype of the distinction of art in the frame and everyday life disappears in `Jemma's Room','' organizers said.
Other events include an auction room featuring Seoul Auction and K-Auction and a young artists' exhibition focusing rising Asian artists.
The art fair also has a charity aspect, with proceeds from the entrance fee profits going to Good Neighbors, which helps cultural education of developing nations.
Visit www.hotelartfair.co.kr.