Tucked in the hills across from the old imperial palace, the Blue-chip Korean galleries populate this picturesque neighborhood, making it rather easy to engage with Korean modern masters as well as the art stars of tomorrow. Think Chelsea, but instead of warehouse spaces, the galleries are starchitect spaces.
The Kukje Gallery
Founded in 1982, Kukje is an international champion of the Dansaekhwa movement (also known as Korean monochrome), having participated in Art Basel since 1998. Kukje was also the first Korean gallery to show many of the West’s most important artists, including Alexander Calder, Louise Bourgeois, Ugo Rondinone, and Jenny Holzer. Kukje will open a major show across all 3 adjacent galleries on Sept. 1 of Lee Seung Jio’s pioneering paintings of abstract cylindrical forms from his “Nucleus” series that began in the 1960s. Vice president Bo Young Song gave us the rundown on just what makes Kukje stand out, read here!
The Tina Kim Gallery
Tina Kim Gallery is a fixture of the international scene, but in fact, Kim herself is the daughter of Kukje founder, Mrs. Lee. Kim opened in 2001 with the goal of broadening the audience for both Korea’s Dansaekhwa and emerging Asian artists. Though Kim does not have a gallery in Seoul, her presence looms large: and for this week, she is collaborating with Andrew Kreps and Bortolami on a pop-up exhibition at the Songwon Art Center (see “New to Town” on the main page).
Gallery Hyundai
Hyundai
Fun fact: Hyundai simply means “modern” in Korean. The gallery is in no way affiliated with the car giant, so don’t be fooled! Hyundai celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020, making it the longest-running commercial Korean gallery focused on contemporary art. Founder Park Myung-Ja’s gallery has made significant contributions to the development of Korean contemporary art, with milestones including their launch of the art magazine “Hwarang” in 1973, and hosting Nam June Paik’s famous “Pas de loup” performance in 1990. The gallery opens Kenny Scharf’s new exhibition, “New! Now! Good!” on Aug. 30.
Jason Haam Gallery
Founded in 2018, Jason Haam’s gallery offers a model that’s a bit distinct from his peers: offering international representation for Western artists on the ground in Seoul. The gallery debuted with Oliver Arms, followed by the first solo exhibition of Sarah Lucas’s work in Asia. A solo exhibition by Urs Fischer opened on Aug. 25, coinciding with the artist’s Gagosian exhibition of over 500 digital sculptures in Los Angeles. For a closer look, read our Q&A with Haam himself.
PKM Gallery
PKM opened in 2001 and introduced Gabriel Oroco, Carsten Holler, Oldenberg and Van Brueggen, and Olafur Eliasson to the Korean audience, but at the same time, has become instrumental in supporting Korean artists here too. PKM was among the first Korean galleries invited to the Frieze Art fair in 2004, and their newest building is one of the largest in historic Samcheong, with over 4000 sq. ft. of exhibition space. Currently on view is “Mind in Matter,” by Chung Chang-Sup—one of the most prominent Dansaekhwa artists, who combined Taoist beliefs and Western minimalism to explore the possibilities of traditional Korean mulberry paper pulp spread on canvas.
Leeahn Gallery
Founder Hyeryung Ahn has galleries in both Seoul and Daegu. She opened her Seoul branch in 2013, where “Reborn,” by Kun-Yong Lee opens Aug. 25. The artist is known for his performative “Bodyscape” paintings. While international galleries are flocking to Seoul, Ahn has an expansion of her Daegu gallery slated to debut next summer. Last summer, she showed new works by Elizabeth Peyton inspired by the films of Wong Kar Wai.
One and J Gallery
Since its opening in 2005, the One and J Gallery has fostered young Korean artists. “First Echo” by Jong Oh, who creates minimalist sculptures that respond to their environment, opens Aug. 29, and will also feature in the gallery’s Frieze booth. One and J. has launched the careers of today’s Korean art stars (including Suki Seoyang Kang). The gallery also has its One and J. +1 project space for emerging artists and curators. An exhibition by tech-experimental collective teamVOID will open on Oct. 7.
Hakgojae
Since 1988, the gallery has focused on creating intersections of past and present, and also East and West, inspired by the Confucian motto translated as, “to review the old to learn the new.” Hakgojae stands out as one of the only contemporary galleries in Seoul housed in a traditional Korean building. The gallery was one of the first to exhibit work from the politically controversial Minjung social realist movement and has also fostered the careers of many Dansaekhwa painters. Their upcoming exhibition, “At First Sight” by Kang Yo-Bae, known for his large, ethereal landscapes, opens on Aug. 26.
