Kolon Group Opens 'SpaceK_Seoul'

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Kolon Group will open the cultural and artistic sharing space 'SpaceK_Seoul' within the Magok Industrial Complex in Seoul starting from the 16th.

'SpaceK_Seoul' is a building constructed as a form of public contribution following Kolon Group's establishment of the 'Kolon One&Only Tower' in the Magok Industrial Complex in 2018, built at a cost of approximately 10.5 billion KRW. Kolon Group donated the building to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and will operate it for the next 20 years.

'SpaceK_Seoul' is an art museum aimed at supporting cultural and artistic content and expanding cultural enjoyment for local residents. Located in the southwestern area of Seoul, which relatively lacks cultural infrastructure, it will become a new exhibition landmark where local residents can freely visit and easily understand and experience contemporary art.

Located in Cultural Park No. 2 in the Magok district, 'SpaceK_Seoul' covers an area of 2,044 m² (approximately 600 pyeong) and is a building with one basement floor and two above-ground floors. It is an architectural structure that beautifully expresses curves within the linear urban grid. Designed with a geometric style combining curves and arcs, the building and park are integrated as part of the urban space, naturally guiding local residents to the museum and providing spaces for communication in the outdoor lawn park and rooftop garden.

The architecture and design were led by Director Minseok Cho (CEO of Mass Studies), who won the Golden Lion at the 14th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition in 2014. He expressed the museum as a new public place mediated by culture, along with green resting spaces within the high-density city.

'SpaceK_Seoul' will focus on introducing trends in contemporary art that combine various technologies, considering the characteristics of the Magok Industrial Complex. The opening exhibition, running until January 2021, titled 'Distorted Portraits,' explores the human form and presents over 30 works visualizing the human inner self through various formats such as painting, photography, and sculpture.

In the outdoor park, the augmented reality artwork 'Unimaginable columns' by artist Han Kyung-woo has been installed. This is a new concept public art project combining augmented reality technology and contemporary art, allowing visitors to appreciate the work using mobile devices. In 2021, exhibitions by Miami-based painter Hernan Bas (February to May 2021) and British conceptual artist Ryan Gander (July to September 2021) are scheduled, continuing to showcase fresh and high-quality domestic and international works.

Meanwhile, SpaceK is an exhibition space established by Kolon Group in 2011 for in-depth cultural and artistic sponsorship. It is not merely a space for viewing artworks but a differentiated social contribution activity by Kolon utilizing art. Since its establishment in 2011, it has held a total of 152 exhibitions and supported 437 artists to date.