Opening at BEXCO on May 9
127 Galleries from 20 Countries Participating Domestically and Internationally
"Excluding Art Basel Hong Kong in the first half of the year across Asia, Art Busan is the next largest fair in terms of scale and recognition, so I feel a heavy sense of responsibility and role. Just as global art fairs entering the domestic market leave achievements in the region, Art Busan is also planning to expand overseas next year."
Art Busan, Korea's representative international art fair (art market), will be held from the 5th to the 9th of next month at BEXCO in Busan. It is making attempts and challenges for differentiation, such as appointing its first external director to enhance the professionalism and fairness of its special exhibition program, "CONNECT."
On the 2nd, Art Busan held a press conference at a restaurant in Jung-gu, Seoul, introducing the galleries and programs participating in this year's Art Busan. Jung Seok-ho (36), director of Art Busan, explained the exhibition lineup and also revealed plans for overseas expansion during the conference.
This year, Art Busan appointed an external director for the first time to strengthen the professionalism and fairness of the CONNECT program. Professor Joo Yeon-hwa from the Graduate School of Culture and Arts Management at Hongik University took on the directing role.
Director Jung said, "We appointed an external director aiming for Art Busan's message in the global art scene to be presented as a single discourse. Director Joo Yeon-hwa is someone who has a comprehensive understanding of both commercial and public art," and explained, "We plan to present a total of eight exhibitions centered on 'Solidarity in the Asian Art Scene' and 'Contemporary Women Artists."
Marking its 13th edition this year, Art Busan will feature a total of 127 galleries from 20 countries, including 26 new participating galleries. Among the participating galleries, 28, accounting for 21%, are galleries from Busan and the Yeongnam region.
On the 2nd, Jung Seok-ho, director of Art Busan, is explaining the exhibition lineup for 'Art Busan 2024'. [Photo by Art Busan]
The 'MAIN' section, targeting galleries that have been open for more than three years and have held at least six curated exhibitions, will include 118 galleries, including major domestic galleries such as International Gallery, PKM Gallery, Hakgojae, Gana Art, Gallery Hyundai, and Johyun Gallery.
International Gallery will showcase works by 23 artists active worldwide, including leading Korean artists such as Park Seo-bo, Ha Chong-hyun, and Kim Yoon-shin, as well as Anish Kapoor, Candida H?fer, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Jenny Holzer, and Julian Opie. Gana Art will present a solo booth by Chiharu Shiota, well known domestically for her large-scale thread installation works, and Gallery Hyundai will exhibit works by world-renowned artists Thomas Saraceno and Robert Indiana.
The 'FUTURE' section, composed of galleries that have been established for more than one year but less than three years or galleries from the MAIN section wishing to hold solo exhibitions by artists under 40, will feature nine galleries. Hakgojae will also participate in the FUTURE section, unveiling new works by artist Heo Soo-young.
The FUTURE section, supporting the participation of promising emerging galleries, includes a total of nine galleries: Prompt Project, Page Room 8, Gallery Unplugged, Push to Enter, Roy Gallery, Byeolgwan, Space Catalog, Hakgojae, and Biscuit Gallery.
The special exhibition "CONNECT" highlights female artists representing the first generation of contemporary Asian art. It will showcase works by iconic Asian female artists of an era such as Kusama Yayoi, Jung Kang-ja, Park Rae-hyun, and Xiao Lu, alongside works by Western leading female artists like Cindy Sherman. Additionally, "FOCUS ASIA: CHINA," themed on Asian solidarity, will introduce works by notable Asian artists including Zhu Jinshi, Yan Lei, Ma Shuqing, and Tan Ping.
The new app service "ART ROUND," which expands the offline art fair experience online, will also make its debut at Art Busan 2024.
Moreover, during the second week of May when Art Busan is held, the "Busan Art Week" event will take place simultaneously, involving galleries, restaurants, resorts, hotels, and cultural spaces in Busan. Through this, it plans to comprehensively introduce Busan's cultural and artistic programs as well as its unique cuisine and relaxation options to family visitors and visitors from across the country.
Director Jung Seok-ho said, "Whether the economy is good or not, we have been considering programs that only Art Busan can offer, and this year we will proceed in that direction. This year, the return of overseas VIP groups from Hong Kong, Jakarta, and Sotheby's Institute, which had been interrupted by COVID-19, is scheduled, creating an encouraging atmosphere," he introduced.
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