Friday and Weekend Highlights at Frieze Seoul

At the Fair

Frieze LIVE Performances 

New performance section Frieze LIVE is an exciting addition to the fair’s curated programme this year. Entitled 신·경(神經): ‘Nerve or Divine Pathway’, its highlights include:

• Friday at 4pm: Cha Yeonså’s heol, heol, heol reinterprets Buddhist rituals by offering a ‘soul bath’ to both the dead and the living, inspired by the poetry of Kim Eon Hee, taking place in Hall D, P2 (next to Booth C24).  
• Saturday at 12pm: Jang Sumi’s participatory performance exploring the intricacies of social networks in Hall D.  

Across the Fair

At the entrance to Frieze Seoul, Choi Goen’s new commission for the 2024 Frieze Artist Award transforms the material detritus of the digital world and urban consumerism into a new sculptural installation.  

Explore utopian and dystopian visions of city life throughout the gallery presentations, from Guillaume Dénervaud’s (Bel Ami) otherworldly and frightening ecosystems to Lee Bul’s (BB&M) ‘Perdu’ works using mother-of-pearl inlaid on paint, evoking biomorphic imagery and a visionary modernity.  

Looking beyond earthly reality, neugerriemschneider’s immersive moon-themed booth features other-worldly works by Olafur Eliasson, Tomás Saraceno, Rirkrit Tiravanija and Ai Weiwei. In the Frieze Masters section, Korean master ceramic artist Young Sook Park (Hakgojae Gallery) presents her remarkable ‘Moon Jar’ pieces, honouring the tradition of Korean ceramics, alongside works by giants of Korean art history including Nam June Paik, Kim Whanki and Byun Wol-ryong (Pen Varlen).  

Head to the publications area to discover international art magazines as well as the CASETiFY x Simon Fujiwara project. CASETiFY’s collaboration with the British-Japanese artist features a capsule collection of tech accessories, merging his creative vision with the brand’s innovative craftsmanship, which are available to buy.

Talks Programme 

Frieze Talks with Kiaf SEOUL and KAMS also continues throughout Friday and Saturday in COEX’s Studio 159, with themes ranging from technological transformations to the Korean art scene today.

On Saturday, curator of the new ‘Smoke’ section debuting at Frieze London 2024, Pablo José Ramírez, is in conversation with LA-based artist Kang Seung Lee. They share their recent projects in the context of larger queer and diasporic narratives.   

• Friday at 11:30am: ‘Explosive Canvases: Illuminating the Shifting Landscape of Art Fairs in the Tapestry of the Art Market’ 
• Friday at 2pm: ‘Echoes of Tomorrow: Redefining Art in the Age of Technological Transition’ 
• Friday at 4:30pm: ‘Collector's Gaze on the New Wave of Art Market’ 
• Saturday at 11:30: Kang Seung Lee and Pablo José Ramírez in Conversation.  
• Saturday at 2pm: ‘Public-Private Ventures: How Galleries and Nonprofits Collaborate Today’  
• Saturday at 4:30pm: ‘Korean Artists Today: Hidden Realms’  

Explore the full Talks programme

Beyond the Fair  

EMAP x Frieze Film Seoul

Close the night at Ewha Womans University’s historic gardens with Frieze Film 2024 titled ‘All that Weaves the Universe: Of Quantum Entanglements’, showcasing works considering the relationship of the human and non-human, from more than 35 international artists. The final screenings takes place on 6 September at 6pm to 10pm. Audiences can also watch the programme on frieze.com.  

Make sure to explore vibrant neighbourhoods nearby, on the west side of Seoul, such as Yeonhui-dong, Yeonnam-dong and Mangwon-dong, which has a beautiful view of the Han River.    

Museums & Non-Profits 

Read Frieze Week magazine’s guide to the best museum shows to see across the city, from ‘Portrait of a Collection’ – 60 pieces owned by French billionaire François Pinault at SONGEUN – to solo shows by Elmgreen & Dragset and Anicka YI. 

In collaboration with Arts Council Korea (ARKO), Frieze Seoul 2024 also celebrates independent and artist-run spaces across the city with a programme of experimental exhibitions. 

Explore more openings and special events on the programme page here and Frieze Week Map here 

Further Information 

Frieze Seoul, COEX, 4 – 7 September 2024.   

Limited tickets for Frieze Seoul are on sale – don’t miss out, buy yours now. Alternatively, become a member to enjoy premier access, multi-day entry, exclusive guided tours and more. 

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A dedicated online Frieze Viewing Room opens in the week before the fair, offering audiences a first look at the presentations and the ability to engage with the fair remotely.  

For all the latest news from Frieze, sign up to the newsletter at frieze.com, and follow @friezeofficial on Instagram, X and Frieze Official on Facebook. 

Frieze Seoul is supported by Headline Partner LG OLED, in a collaboration that merges the worlds of art and technology, and Global Lead Partner Deutsche Bank, continuing over two decades of shared commitment to artistic excellence. 

^{Main image: You Young Jin, Vuja de, 2021. Courtesy: the artist and BOAN 1942}