Seocho-gu Neighborhood Cafe Youth Artist Exhibition

‘Youth Gallery Cafe Support Project’, Exhibitions Held in 18 Local Cafes Over 2 Months in 1st to 3rd Rounds

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Eighteen cafes in Seocho-gu are being transformed into small galleries for young artists.

Seocho-gu (Mayor Eunhee Cho) is conducting the 'Youth Gallery Cafe Support Project,' which provides young artists with opportunities to showcase their work and offers residents a cultural space in their daily lives.

Last year, as a pilot project, 10 cafes exhibited works by 10 young artists, receiving positive responses including residents purchasing the artworks. This year, the project is expanded to 18 cafes.

After a one-month open call, a total of 204 works by 68 young artists were submitted. Among them, 105 works by 37 young artists were selected based on suitability for the cafes.

Various works reflecting the unique styles of young artists, ranging from oil paintings, ink paintings, watercolors, to stainless steel reliefs, will be exhibited for two months each, conducted over three rounds.

Notably, this year, 16 works by six young artists with developmental disabilities will be exhibited in two cafes (Uri Dongnae Seojae, Cafe Platform). These works passed the same evaluation process as general artists and were finally selected by the cafe owners.

Visitors can purchase artworks directly at the cafes. Additionally, cup holders made from the exhibited artworks will be used during the exhibition period at each cafe, offering visitors the fun of collecting them while visiting the youth gallery cafes.

The Youth Gallery Cafe project is supported by 18 local cafes in Seocho-gu that encourage young artists. The first exhibition runs until July 10.

The second exhibition, featuring new artists' works, will be held from July 13 to September 4, and the third from September 6 to October 30. Additional applications will be accepted from June 1 to 10.