Hwarang Art Fair in Suwon Concludes on June 29
104 Galleries and Works by Over 600 Artists Showcased
Most Works Priced from Hundreds of Thousands to Millions of Won
Many Family Visitors Attended
The 2nd "2025 Hwarang Art Fair in Suwon," held with the aim of alleviating the concentration of the art market in Seoul and strengthening the art distribution market in southern Gyeonggi Province, concluded on June 29.
This year’s event ran for four days from June 26 at the first-floor exhibition hall and third-floor convention hall of the Suwon Convention Center. Works by approximately 600 artists from 104 galleries affiliated with the Korea Gallery Association were showcased to visitors.
The majority of exhibited works were priced in the hundreds of thousands to millions of won, while large-scale pieces were traded at around 30 million won. Purchases focused mainly on reasonably priced works. Gallery Banditraso sold out all of its pieces, including a size 50 work by artist Yoon Witong and more than ten small pieces. Gallery Dasun sold over ten works by artist Wang Esther. Additionally, works by Jung Sooyoung and Esther Kim from Hakgojae, and Choi Jei from Artspace H received significant attention.
This year saw a marked increase in family visitors. Various side programs targeting families, such as the Kids Art Salon, stood out. Allowing dogs to enter also helped lower the threshold for visitors, which was positively received.
Docent and talk programs were also held successfully. These programs were tailored to the general public, who may not have extensive art knowledge, and were praised for encouraging active communication, including enthusiastic questions from visitors.
The number of participating galleries (104) increased by 10% compared to last year. On the first day alone, which was VIP Day, about 4,700 visitors attended, and over the four days, a total of around 30,000 people visited the Hwarang Art Fair.
Lee Sunghoon, president of the Korea Gallery Association, which hosted the event, emphasized its significance by stating, "By holding the Hwarang Art Fair, the oldest art fair in Korea, in Suwon, we have expanded contemporary art events beyond Seoul to the regions. This not only invigorates local culture but also serves as a meaningful opportunity to broaden the base of contemporary art."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
