BEXCO Art Busan Leap Forward in the Post-COVID-19 Era

Anticipating a big hit with Art Busan's powerful galleries line-up

Cub-reporter Seo Yea-weon

seoyeaweon@naver.com

This year's eleventh Art Busan, hosted by Art Show Busan, is a fair that will be held at BEXCO in Busan until 15 May, starting with the VIP preview on 12 May. The time is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will be held in Halls one, two, and three of BEXCO's First Exhibition Hall. Ticket prices are generally 20,000KRW per person. There are two major themes in Art Busan, the first is 'Experiment' and the second is 'Conversations'.

'Experiment' has a special exhibition section where galleries are able to participate to introduce various contemporary artworks to people and encourage and promote the exhibition of large-scale performances, and place-specific installation art beyond general paintings. Furthermore, there is a space for installing works that have been carefully screened by a panel of judges composed of professional curators in the exhibition hall.

The program of 'Conversations' invites celebrities from domestic and foreign art circles to look at trends representing the modern art world, talk with collectors and artists, the impact of art on the city, or the direction Busan should move forward in the global art world.

Participants in Art Busan are famous and highly reputed galleries that are found not only in Korea but also abroad. Art Busan, which last year was used to gauge the strength of the offline art trading market, is expected to become a hit this year, too. Last year, by the close of Art Busan, a new record of sales had been set, with sales of more than 35 billion KRW and more than 80,000 visitors even though it took place during COVID-19. The application period to participate in the exhibition was held through the Art Busan official website from 8 November to 31 December last year, and received as many as 272 applications. Due to this fierce competition, Art Busan conducted a strict review and only 125 galleries were selected to exhibit their works.

In Korea, the top ten galleries, including Kukje Gallery, Gana Art, and Hakgojae, etc., which represent Korea on the world stage, will participate and will exhibit contemporary artworks in the largest booth of 160㎡. In addition, while the participation of young galleries is drawing attention, Galerie ERD, A-Lounge, Whistle, and Cylinder are attracting attention for their unpredictable planning and fresh experimental works. Galleries with famous and seasoned images and MZ generation collectors who present a new perspective as young galleries and lead the era can establish themselves in the art world will make harmony in Art Busan.

From overseas, the Richard Gray Gallery, a gallery famous for displaying works by world-renowned master David Hockney and exhibitions from Alex Katz, has been dealing with contemporary art in the United States and Europe in Chicago and New York since 1963. It has decided to participate in the domestic art fair for the first time. Peres Projects in Germany, which has been steadily participating in Art Busan since 2019, is expected to attract the attention of collectors by presenting its works. 28 other galleries will also be exhibited.

High-quality works and the prestigious gallery line-up are already attracting many people's expectations. Anticipating the success of Art Busan this year, it is recommend for students and workers who are tired of COVID-19 find an opportunity to see the artworks of Art Busan and relax.