Return of Frieze and Kiaf Seoul to offer 2-for-1 art fair experience

A view of Frieze Seoul 2022 at COEX in southern Seoul / Yonhap

By Park Han-sol

Frieze Seoul and Kiaf Seoul are returning to Seoul in September to offer a distinctive two-for-one art fair experience once again. The creative momentum generated by their partnership is expected to extend well beyond the fair venues this time, with the city government launching a broader cultural initiative "Seoul Art Week" to celebrate the two art events' arrival.

"In a very short period of time, I feel the two fairs together have already become a very important anchor in the city's arts and culture calendar," said Frieze Seoul Director Patrick Lee during a joint press conference in central Seoul, Thursday.

Some 330 emerging and established galleries around the globe will flock to COEX in southern Seoul for the concurrent openings of the two fairs on Sept. 6. Like last year, Frieze Seoul will be hosted for four days, while Kiaf Seoul is set to run until Sept. 10, one day more than its counterpart.

Purchasing one joint ticket, sold at 250,000 won ($187) for a preview or 80,000 won ($60) for general admission, will grant access to both fairs.

George Condo's "Internal Combustion" (2023) / Courtesy of the artist, Hauser & Wirth

The second edition of Frieze remains similar in size as last year as it brings together just over 120 dealers, but with a much stronger core of Asia-based exhibitors. Approximately 70 have a space in the region, 26 of which are either based in or opened a branch in Korea.

Blue-chip dealer Hauser & Wirth is poised to bring pieces by George Condo and Paul McCarthy, while David Zwirner will land in Seoul with a presentation of Katherine Bernhardt and Rose Wylie.

Meanwhile, Gagosian is set to present Jonas Wood's oil painting alongside Nam June Paik's 2005 "TV Buddha." Lehmann Maupin will spotlight significant Korean creatives across generations, including Sung Neung-kyung, Do Ho Suh and Lee Bul, and Pace Gallery will debut its representation of Lawrence Weiner's estate side by side with works by Yoshitomo Nara and Lee Kun-yong.

Other galleries with notable solo booths include David Kordansky with Mary Weatherford; Jessica Silverman with Woody De Othello; and Francois Ghebaly with Cindy Ji Hye Kim.

Sung Neung-kyung's "Apple ― contact print" (1977) / Courtesy of the artist, Lehmann Maupin

The late 15th-century manuscript "Hours of Guillaume II Mole (Use of Troyes)" / Courtesy of Dr. Jorn Gunther Rare Books

The fair's two feature sections will return: Focus Asia, which centers on 10 of the groundbreaking up-and-coming artists introduced through emerging galleries in the region, as well as Frieze Masters, dedicated to art from antiquities and rare, centuries-old manuscripts to 20th-century master drawings etched with names like Cezanne, Matisse, Picasso, Renoir and J. M. W. Turner.

"I am cautiously optimistic that the atmosphere will be a positive one (this year)," Lee said, adding that the fair expects to see many collectors hailing from mainland China, who were unable to come during its inaugural edition due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions.

"Asia (as a region) does provide a lot of potential … because there's a new audience that can be educated and be inspired by their dialogue with galleries, collectors, patrons and curators," he noted. "Frieze and Kiaf together are exposing a new audience to new art and also (serving as) a platform for Asian galleries to interact with an interesting community."

Hwang Dal-seung, president of Galleries Association of Korea, Kiaf Seoul's host, speaks during a joint press conference with Frieze Seoul, at The Westin Josun Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Kiaf Seoul

Yun Hyong-keun's "Burnt Umber" (1981) / Courtesy of BHAK

Kiaf Seoul, known as the country's longest-running contemporary art fair, emphasized its strengthened focus on spotlighting young, dynamic creatives and their new works to differentiate itself from Frieze.

"We are also featuring more Korean galleries in our roster of 210 for a more balanced representation, since Frieze has a much larger percentage of foreign dealers," said Hwang Dal-seung, president of the fair's host, Galleries Association of Korea.

To achieve such a goal, the organizer is staging a number of additional programs including its satellite art fair Kiaf Plus, joined by 30 emerging galleries here and abroad as a platform for rising creators, and "Gray Box Area," a curated exhibition of 10 Korean new media artists and collectives.

In addition, the fair is poised to mount a special show, "Hometown to the Unadulterated Colors," bringing to light the underappreciated history of Korean polychrome paintings through the works of two masters, Park Re-hyun and Park Saeng-kwang.

Park Saeng-kwang's "Shaman 12" (1984) / Courtesy of Kiaf Seoul

In collaboration with Frieze and Korean Art Management Service (KAMS), Kiaf Seoul will also hold free public talk sessions led by prominent industry professionals and creators at COEX ― such as Chong Do-ryun, deputy director of M+ in Hong Kong; Angelle Siyang-Le, director of Art Basel Hong Kong; and Virginia Moon, associate curator of Korean art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

The organizers of the two fairs highlighted the initiatives launched by the Seoul Metropolitan Government this year to facilitate the experience of the art patrons and gallerists who will fly here en masse in the coming weeks.

In addition to hosting Seoul Art Week, a citywide celebration of the general Korean arts and culture scene from Sept. 1 to 10, the government is set to provide a call taxi service in partnership with i.M to address the traffic issue and set up information centers for visitors in the major gallery districts of Samcheong-dong (Corner Gallery) and Hannam-dong (Bluesquare NEMO).