"This Year's Hwarang Art Festival Gets Younger" Opens on the 3rd of Next Month

156 Galleries Participating Nationwide
VIP Preview on April 3, at COEX Until the 7th

"Not only established artists' works but also those of inventive emerging artists will be showcased together, making this year's Hwarang Art Fair start off youthful," said Hwang Dalseong, President of the Korea Art Gallery Association.

The Korea Art Gallery Association announced on the 14th that the 'Hwarang Art Fair' will be held from the 3rd to the 7th of next month at COEX Hall C and D in Seoul.

The Hwarang Art Fair, which began in 1979, marks its 42nd edition this year. With 156 member galleries participating, all participating galleries will be provided with booths of the same size. The association recommended that each booth exhibit works by no more than six artists.

International Gallery will exhibit works by domestic and international artists including Kim Hongseok, who recently held a solo exhibition, Jean-Michel Othoniel, and Candida H?fer. Gallery Hyundai will display works by Lee Geonyong and Lee Gangso.

Hakgojae introduces artists such as Lee Woosung, Jang Jaemin, Ji Geunwook, and Kim Eunjeong, while Geumsan Gallery features Yoon Pilhyun, and Gallery Wi presents Gosu and Heo Pilhyun.

Gana Art will hold a solo exhibition of Japanese artist Sugito Hiroshi. PKM Gallery (Shin Minju), The Page Gallery (Park Seokwon), and others will dedicate their booths to a single artist's works. Johyun Gallery will also exhibit works by Japanese artist Suga Kishio.

Among the works exhibited at the Hwarang Art Fair, 47 pieces by Yoon Hyunggeun, Seo Yongseon, Lee Woosung, and Jen Park will be introduced on Shinsegae International's online platform SI Village starting from the 18th of this month, two weeks before the art fair. Some of these will also be displayed at Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam Branch.

2024 Hwarang Art Fair Poster. [Photo by Korea Art Gallery Association]

The special exhibition for emerging artists, 'ZOOM-IN Edition 5,' is anticipated as a major program of the 2024 Hwarang Art Fair. This emerging artist discovery program targets artists aged 39 and under working in various genres such as painting, sculpture, and installation, and is held in partnership with Porsche Korea.

Among the 10 artists selected through an open call?Gwak Aram, Kim Bokyung, Kim Hanna, Song Jihyun, Shim Yeji, Lee Seongjae, Lee Hojun, Jang Suik, Choi Myungwon, and Choi Hyeyeon?three final winners will be chosen based on a combination of visitor votes and expert judging at the art fair. These winners will receive prize money and special promotional opportunities.

This year's Hwarang Art Fair has created a separate website for more detailed information and introduced online tickets, considering the younger age demographic of visitors. Only VIP tickets will be issued in both paper and digital formats.

Hwang Dalseong, President of the Korea Art Gallery Association, said, "Considering the unfavorable art market conditions, we have significantly lowered the participation fees," adding, "As the Hwarang Art Fair is a major art fair that opens the year, it will serve as a barometer for this year's art market."