HBC Art Club features 31 Korean, foreign artists at 'Conception' exhibition
Art from members of HBC Art Club is displayed at Insadong KOTE in central Seoul, April 11. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
Joseph Song is a Korean animation producer who once worked on major overseas titles, but found himself overwhelmed by the intensity of studio work.
“It was so hard for me,” he told The Korea Times. “After all that hard work, having to be by myself again to work on personal stuff was draining.”
Despite the demands of his day job, he remained committed to his passion for creating comics. Every Friday night, he would stay up to work on his comic projects, sharing new updates. But the isolation of solo creation wore on him.
“I was working on my comics on the side as a personal project," he said. "So, every Friday night, I committed myself to work on my comics, and I posted every Friday night. But it was so hard for me, you know, to have to be myself alone, working on my stuff after all that hard work."
Around that time, back in early 2023, he talked with his friend Tahni Osterman, also an artist, and they started holding gatherings at a small space at Sinheung Market in central Seoul's multicultural Haebangchon (HBC) neighborhood on Fridays.
Ultimately, this became HBC Art Club. Over the club's two years, it has organized a total of five exhibitions with about 120 artists participating in total. It has become a vibrant hub for both Korean and foreign artists, who gather each Friday night to share in creative exploration and collaboration.
Members of HBC Art Club gather at Insadong KOTE in central Seoul, April 11. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
At first, their gatherings consisted of four or five people, but they soon outgrew the space. So they moved the gatherings to a cafe that could accommodate a larger crowd and kept growing.
“We were all artists, so we were sharing one thing in common,” he said.
That shared bond became the foundation of a community built on mutual respect, creative freedom and zero pressure.
“It helped me deal with the overworking culture in Korea. I felt like I was at home,” he said.
The artists gather every Friday night, a tradition that hasn’t changed since its inception. There are no fees, no formal memberships and no obligations. Artists bring their supplies and projects — be it painting, crafting or illustration.
“It’s unlike any other community; we don’t force anything," Song said. "Even the four founders don’t come if we’re busy. It’s free-flowing. People can join for 10 minutes or stay the whole night; everyone is welcome anytime between 7 and 9 p.m.”
While there are no rules, there is one tradition: at 9 p.m., it's group photo time. At that moment, all the artists gather their works on a table and take a picture together. It's the only ritual that unites every Friday session, preserving a visual memory of each unique gathering.
Members of HBC Art Club gather at Insadong KOTE in central Seoul, April 11. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
There’s no fixed venue either; the group rotates locations, such as the Yongsan, Euljiro and Jongno areas in the city, keeping the spirit fresh and adaptable.
Karolina Meskinyte is one of the group's participants. Originally from Lithuania, she is a K-pop fan artist with over 58,000 Instagram followers, currently in Korea as an international student pursuing her master’s degree at Sogang University. She met the club members during an exhibition and happily still works with them.
“When I first came to Korea in 2023, I stumbled upon an art exhibition completely by accident," she said. "That led me to meet some local community members, and eventually, I saw a post about an art club. I wasn’t sure if I had to register or anything, so I asked my friend to join me, and we just showed up. Since then, I’ve been going almost every week — except when I’m busy with school or work."
What makes HBC Art Club special to her is how open and welcoming it is. “I’ve met a lot of people who share the same passion for art," she said. "Over time, I’ve even made real friendships, not just acquaintances. It’s great to come together, share what we’ve been working on and celebrate everyone’s art."
Another regular at the weekly events is Corey Lajeunesse, a Canadian who comes out from Incheon to participate. He was originally invited to join the art club by someone who discovered him drawing in a coffee shop.
Corey Lajeunesse shows off his work at Insadong KOTE in central Seoul, April 11. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu
“I make art because I’m bored," he said. "I’m not a social person, and I spend a lot of time alone, so art gives me something to do. It fills my time and keeps me productive."
He prefers creating visually appealing work rather than deeply philosophical pieces. He finds artist statements frustrating and jokes that his inspiration can be as simple as liking a color.
A poster for HBC Art Club's "Conception" group exhibition / Courtesy of HBC Art Club
"People ask what inspired a piece. Honestly? I just liked orange,” he said.
He has participated in both solo and group exhibitions over his 20 years in Korea, displaying body painting, photography, drawings and paintings.
HBC Art Club is organizing “Conception, a New Beginning,” the first in a series of five group exhibitions. Featuring 31 Korean and foreign artists, its opening party is on Saturday at Harbor Brown Coffee & Bakery in HBC, running from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and featuring live music performances. The exhibition continues until April 25. Visit @hbcartclub on Instagram for more information.
Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He's also a freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency and the co-founder of Hanokers, a refugee-led social initiative.