[On the Scene] Visitors pause before paintings... A weekend walk through Art Gwangju

94 galleries from 12 countries take part... 113 booths set up
From paintings and sculptures to works by world-renowned masters
A steady stream of visitors... On-site creative process also draws attention
Young artist Yoo Suyeon: "It gave me a chance to build confidence"

On the morning of October 24, at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center, where the Gwangju International Art Fair, Art Gwangju, was being held, visitors stood in a semicircle in front of a painting. As the explanation of the work continued, people standing behind them looked at it over the shoulders of those in front.

Booths separated by white walls stretched out in a row. Visitors walked along the aisles and stopped in front of artworks. Where explanations were being given, they shifted their gaze between the person speaking and the paintings.

Visitors look around the artworks at the Art Gwangju exhibition held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju on the 24th. Photo by Song Bohyun.

Flowers, white porcelain and unfamiliar forms... A walk through the exhibition

The exhibition featured a variety of works, from black-and-white portraits to vividly colored paintings and three-dimensional pieces. Visitors were drawn to a painting of smiling flowers filling a circular canvas, as well as works by artists Jeong Chae-an, Jang Yongrim and Lee Jini, whose subjects included flowers, cotton and white porcelain.

Visitors examined the works with brochures in hand or talked with their companions about the paintings. They would linger in front of one work before shifting their attention to another just a few steps away.

Kim Miseon, 58, said, "Even though I come every year, it's fun to discover new paintings. I also enjoy seeing what kinds of work young artists are creating. If I find something I like while looking around, I sometimes buy it."

Artist Shin Dowon's exhibition booth. Works in shades of red and tools are on display. Photo by Song Bohyun.

Visitors could see not only finished works but also the creative process. Artist Shin Dowon demonstrated a work using phosphorescent paint on site. In front of a wall marked with traces of red and pink paint, Shin added color to a small canvas. Art supplies and frames were arranged nearby, and images in vivid colors appeared on a monitor.

Now in its 17th year, Art Gwangju brought together 94 galleries from 12 countries: 82 from Korea and 12 from overseas. A total of 113 booths were set up, including 104 exhibition booths and nine service booths, showcasing a range of works including paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs and installation art.

From masters' prints to works displayed in living spaces

The special exhibition "Heroes of Contemporary Art" featured works by internationally renowned artists. Highlights included Yayoi Kusama's print "Pumpkin (2)" (1990), Keith Haring's "Untitled Marker Drawing" (1987) and David Hockney's photographic drawing "Focus Moving" (2018).

A flower-themed work by Takashi Murakami exhibited at Art Gwangju. Photo by Song Bohyun.

A 1992 Whitney Museum of American Art exhibition poster featuring an image of Jean-Michel Basquiat's "In Italian" was also on display. Takashi Murakami's flower imagery and art toys in the shape of animals also caught visitors' eyes. They could view and compare paintings on the walls with three-dimensional works on pedestals in one place.

The "Propose" exhibition, which showcased works from local collectors' holdings, brought the artworks into living spaces. Works by Kim Yun-shin, Jang Gano, Go Chabun and Kim Minjung, among others, were displayed alongside furniture. Rather than presenting each work in isolation, the exhibition was arranged to show how paintings and furniture can come together in a shared space.

Visitors listen to a docent explain the artworks at Art Gwangju, held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju on the 24th. Reporter Song Bohyun.

Docent tours were also offered, allowing visitors to explore the exhibition while listening to explanations of the works. Visitor amenities included a public lounge, an art shop and a gift-wrapping shop. Art Gwangju, hosted by Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City and organized by the Gwangju Cultural Foundation, runs through October 25 in Halls A, B and C of the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center.

A young artist who wondered, "Am I doing this well?" gains confidence at the exhibition

This year's "Rising Star" exhibition expanded its selection of young artists from Gwangju to include Jeonnam. After selecting three artists from Gwangju last year, the exhibition selected two each from Gwangju and Jeonnam this year: Kim Myeongjin, Kim Haseul, Yoo Suyeon and Jeon Jeongyeon.

The selected works are Kim Myeongjin's "Bearing the Weight," Kim Haseul's "Stillness of the Night III," Yoo Suyeon's "Waiting" and Jeon Jeongyeon's "Windows and Gaps_White Chrysanthemum." The event also broadened opportunities for young artists to participate, as it is the first to be held since the launch of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City.

Artist Yoo Suyeon, who participated in the Art Gwangju Rising Star exhibition, stands in front of her work. Photo by Song Bohyun.

Yoo Suyeon, whom we met at the exhibition, graduated from a university in Gwangju and now lives in Suncheon. Her paintings bring together people, plants and creatures that do not exist in reality. Stories rooted in everyday life lead to unfamiliar forms and unknown spaces. The scenes invite viewers to explore every corner of the canvas, much like reading an illustrated storybook.

For Yoo, who is in her third year since graduating, the exhibition was an opportunity to believe in her own work. "Since I don't have much experience yet, when I'm working alone, I sometimes wonder whether I'm doing things right," she said. "Getting this opportunity made me think, 'So I am on the right track after all,' and it gave me a chance to build at least a little confidence."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.