Frieze and ARKO Join Forces to Support Seoul’s Independent and Non-Profit Spaces

To support the rich culture of artist-run and independent creative spaces across Seoul, as well as the city’s grassroots art scene, Frieze and Arts Council Korea (ARKO) have collaborated to promote a series of activations by 36 spaces in Seoul during Frieze Week, September 4–9. Details of the spaces can be found on Frieze digital city map here.

Twenty-two of selected spaces have previously received support from the ARKO Selection Visual Art program, and the other 14 have been selected following consultation with ARKO and this year’s Frieze Film curators Sungah Serena CHOO and KIM Sung woo.

Here are some of the experimental shows at Seoul’s independent spaces taking place during Frieze Week:

KIM Dan, “Bulgasari” at Geomang Creative Studio

2023.8.10–2023.9.10

“Bulsagari” is a legendary creature that chases away nightmares and bad energies while consuming iron. During the process of firing ceramics, KIM Dan retrieves the works of fellow artists that have cracked and shattered and reassembles them, firing them again in the kiln to create a new birth of immortality.

11 Apgujeong-ro 2-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

“After the Unsustainable” at CR Collective

2023.8.17–2023.9.23

"After the Unsustainable" traces the process of artistic praxis for ecology, environment and sustainability conducted by artists Taeyeon KIM, Juhee YOUN, and Jaiyoung CHO, and the MIX n FIX group (Jaehoi KOO, Donghyun GWON, Ikkyun SHIN, Chulho YEOM and Joowon CHOI) through sculpture. The artists rethink their works, dismantle them into the smallest possible units and reexamine the meaning of sharing within the physical conditions of existence. This exhibition is a critical interpretation of the ongoing tragedy generated by the constant proliferation and infinite desires of capitalism in the name of efficiency and utility value. It is also a way of believing that we should seriously look for an alternative to current environmental issues without turning our eyes from unsolved problems of humankind. 

504-29 Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul

“Hidden + Lost – Tracing Sound” at Alternative Space LOOP

2023.8.25–2023.9.24

"Hidden + Lost – Tracing Sound" is an exchange between Korean and German artists that involves composition and performance. The project includes a solo exhibition by composer Peter Gahn and five musical performances with works by Korean and German composers. Peter Gahn’s De-escalating Skies I and Of Opening the Space I are installed as 8-channel sound works. The live events are Ensemble Wiro’s lecture concert Instrumental and Electro-Acoustic, cellist Arita Kwon’s lecture concert Sounds and Structures, saxophonist Sin Kyu Lee’s lecture concert Compositions for Saxophone and Electronics - Germany and Korea, a concert featuring modern music composers Byung-moo Lee, Youngjoo Jennifer Ryu and Hyunsuk Jun titled “Anatomy of sound” – Electronic music from K-Arts, and sound artist Daniel Schine Lee’s Teddy and Taiji.

20 Wausan-ro 29na-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul.

“The Derby Match: Watchman and Spy” at Museumhead

2023.9.1–2023.9.23

"The Derby Match: Watchman and Spy" is a rivalry taking place at the heart of the September art market, including Frieze Seoul and Kiaf SEOUL. The exhibition adopts strategies of engagement and embodiment, critique and deconstruction. It contemplates phenomena of today’s art market. Participants in the exhibition (who have actual sales in mind) initially appear as players detached from the venue and even from their own selves. "The Derby Match: Watchman and Spy" accepts the inevitable necessity of participating in the peculiarities of the art market.

1F, 84-3, Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

“Boundaries for All” at Gong-won

2023.9.07–2023.9.30

"Boundaries for All" is about hasty response to disability sensitivity. Issues arise in the relationship between disabled and non-disabled people, stemming from a lack of understanding about each other. Steep ramps at entrances, sign-language interpreters and braille guides cannot solve the problems of disability. Instead, they become excuses to ignore awkward relationships, even reducing interactions between disabled and non-disabled. The more technology advances and society becomes refined and smooth, the more the anticipation of using technology or devices to solve social issues isolates individuals. This expectation solidifies the boundaries for everyone. “Boundaries for All” is a commentary on the physical and emotional divisions that distinguish disability from non-disability: a contemplation interwoven with grievances.

9-3, 4gil Chungjeong-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.

MORE INFORMATION

The non-profit and independent spaces taking part:

1. The Reference*
2. Doosan Gallery
3. d/p*
4. BOAN1942*
5. Factory2
6. Primary Practice
7. Project Space SARUBIA*
8. Museumhead
9. Insa Art Space
10. Seongbuk Arts Center
11. CAN Foundation*
12. WESS*
13. Artspace Hyeong
14. Space Cadalogs
15. Yellow Pen Club
16. Euljiro OF*
17. Jungganjijeom*
18. Alternative Space LOOP*
19. Outhouse*
20. CR Collective*
21. Elephantspace
22. Hapjungjigu*
23. Geomang Creative Studio*
24. HITE Collection
25. Perigee Gallery
26. Audio Visual Pavilion*
27. Amado Art Space*
28. SPACE Four One Three*
29. show and tell*
30. GONG-WON*
31. Philosopher’s Stone*
32. SPACE ÆFTER
33. Space55*
34. Oksang Factory*
35. Osisun
36. Art Centre Art Moment

* Supported by ARKO Selection Visual Art Project

Additionally, with the aim to provide long-term support for non-profits, ARKO is releasing the inaugural 'Art Space Network' during Frieze Week in collaboration with non-profit art spaces across the country. As part of the Network, ARKO Art Center's online map provides a comprehensive overview of diverse art spaces including alternative, emerging, and non-profit venues across Korea.

The map includes 72 spaces of Seoul (Jongno-gu, Seongbuk-gu, Jung-gu, Seodaemun-gu, Gangnam-gu, Mapo-gu, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Yongsan-gu) and 19 spaces from Gyeonggi-do, Incheon, Daejeon, Daegu, Busan and Gwangju. Full details can be found here.

^{Main Image: Hidden+Lost-Tracing Sound at Alternative Space LOOP, 2023. Courtesy of Alternative Space LOOP}