Seoul Prepares for 2023 Frieze
ikkibawiKrrr, Seaweed Story, 2022. Singing haenyeo, “sea women” divers. Still: ikkibawiKrrr
From the event: Programming details have been announced for the second edition of Frieze Seoul, returning to COEX from September 6–9, 2023. Running concurrently with Kiaf SEOUL, the fair will feature more than 120 of the world’s leading galleries, with a strong core of local exhibitors showcasing art from across Asia. Frieze Seoul will also present curated programs of Film, Talks and Music exploring the wider creative landscape of Korea.
Patrick Lee, Director of Frieze Seoul, said: “These special projects anchor Frieze’s identity as an artist-driven organization and promise to secure the fair’s position as an unmissable moment in the international arts calendar. Frieze Film, under the purview of Sungah Serena CHOO and KIM Sung woo, will bring together some of the most exciting artists working in Seoul today. In addition, we look forward to collaborating with KIAF and KAMS on a shared talks program with an ambitious agenda reflecting some of the most important conversations shaping the art world, both globally and in Asia. Fittingly, we will mark the fair’s deepening connections to the city's arts ecosystem with Frieze Night, a kick off celebration with the DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) presented with our partner LG OLED on September 6.”
FRIEZE FILM
Titled It was the way of walking through narrative, Frieze Film 2023 sheds light on how narrative in video is used as a methodology for excavation: an archaeological term employed to expose histories that are eliminated or omitted from official records.
Curated by Sungah Serena CHOO and KIM Sung woo, Frieze Film presents 14 Korea-based artists whose video works will be activated in four non-profit spaces: Amado Art Space and MOTHER Offline, both in Hannam-dong; BOAN1942 in Tongui-dong; and Insa Art Space in Samcheong-dong.
The works take a nonlinear walk through time, blending the past, present and future. The artists featured include AN Jungju, BAEK Heaven, Omyo CHO, HAN Uri, HONG LEE Hyun-Sook, JUN Sojung, KIM Daum, KIM Hyojae, KWAK So Jin, LEE Eunhee, Moojin Brothers, NAM Hwayeon, PARK Sunmin and PYO Minhong.
FRIEZE TALKS
Hosted in collaboration with Kiaf SEOUL and Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS), the talks program will reflect on some of the most pressing and discussed issues in the international art world. Topics include insights into K-Art, the Asian art fairs ecosystem, Korean experimental art, AI in art, new-media art, collecting, the environment and artist talks.
The talks will feature many leading industry figures and artists: Doryun Chong (Deputy Director, M+), Kim Heecheon (artist), Eva Jäger (Curator, Arts Technology, Serpentine), JEON Joonho and MOON Kyungwon (artists), Yung Ma (Curator, Hayward Gallery), Seng Yu Jin (Senior Curator and Deputy Director, National Gallery Singapore) and more.
The program will take place at Studio 159 at COEX from September 7–9, 2023 and will be open to the public and free of charge.
FRIEZE MUSIC
A major highlight of this year’s program is the inaugural edition of Frieze Music Seoul, presented in partnership with BMW and featuring a live performance by acclaimed musician Colde, on Friday, September 8 at New Garage in the Seongsu-dong district. Colde will be joined by special guests APRO and Khakii from the artist’s label Wavy. The event is invitation-only, with tickets made available to the public via a competition on Frieze’s Instagram, @friezeofficial.
SUPPORTING SEOUL’S NON-PROFITS
Frieze will work with Arts Council Korea (ARKO) to promote a series of activations at 35 non-profit spaces during Frieze Week, September 4–9, to support Seoul’s rich culture of artist-run and independent spaces, as well as the city’s active grassroots art scene. 21 of the selected non-profits have previously received support from the ARKO Selection Visual Art program, and a further 14 have been selected following consultation with ARKO and Frieze Film curators Sungah Serena CHOO and KIM Sung woo.
FRIEZE COLLABORATES WITH GETTY
Frieze will launch a new global partnership with Getty, the Los Angeles-based cultural and philanthropic institution, at Frieze Seoul this year. The two organizations will collaborate on a series of commissions and events in Seoul, London and LA ahead of the 2024 edition of PST ART: “Art & Science Collide”. A Getty initiative, PST ART (formerly Pacific Standard Time) brings together museums and institutions across Southern California for one of the most expansive art events in the world.
At Frieze Seoul, Korean visual research collective ikkibawiKrrr will present a new video and interactive performance exploring the marine ecosystem and environmental sustainability featuring haenyeo: a community of female divers on Jeju Island who harvest seaweed and seafood for a living. In the creation of the video work, Seaweed Story (2022), ikkibawiKrrr worked closely with the haenyeo, who are an indelible part of the island’s identity.
Presented alongside ikkibawiKrrr’s video installation will be an interactive performance titled Flavors of the Sea (2023) that will take place daily. Seaweed Story will also feature in the PST ART exhibition “Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice” at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles in 2024.
FRIEZE WEEK EVENTS
Frieze Week, September 4–9, will return in 2023 with special events, activations and partner projects throughout the city. A central part of this program will see late-night openings in three of Seoul’s most important gallery districts: Hannam Night on Tuesday, September 5; Cheongdam Night on Wednesday, September 6; and Samcheong Night on Thursday, September 7.
Participating galleries and institutions for Hannam Night include Gallery Baton, CYLINDER, Esther Schipper, Leeum Museum of Art, Lehmann Maupin, P21, Pace, Thaddaeus Ropac, Sprüth Magers, VSF and Whistle.
Cheongdam Night will highlight spaces including Atelier Hermès, G Gallery, Gladstone, ONE AND J., Perrotin, SONGEUN and White Cube.
Samcheong Night will include A-Lounge, ARARIO GALLERY, Art Sonje Center, Hakgojae, Gallery Hyundai, Tina Kim Gallery, Kukje and PKM.
A full list will be released on Frieze.com.
Frieze Seoul
Frieze Seoul returns to COEX from September 6–9, 2023. Discover the best art from more than 120 leading galleries from across Asia and beyond. Located in the Gangnam district in the heart of Seoul, the fair runs alongside Kiaf SEOUL, South Korea’s leading art fair.