``24'' by Shine Kong is part of the ``Artists with Arario'' exhibition at Arario Gallery. /Courtesy of Arario Gallery |
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Arario Gallery, one of the biggest commercial galleries in Korea, is welcoming the Lunar New Year with its first group show that gathers its ``exclusive'' artists.
한국에서 가장큰 상업화랑중의 하나인 아라리오 갤러리가 구정을 맞아 전속작가들로 구성된 첫번째 전시를 갖는다.`
Artists with Arario,'' featuring 19 artists from Korea, India and the Philippines, opens at the Arario galleries in Seoul and Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, Feb. 9.
``This exhibition will be an opportunity to commemorate the memories and fruitful artistic accomplishments of the artists with special connections to the gallery, who for the last five years have been represented by Arario Gallery, as well as providing the public a chance to encounter the leading works of the Korean contemporary art scene,'' organizers said in a press release.
Arario Gallery, founded by businessman and influential art collector Kim Chang-il in Cheonan in 1989, has led the way in the Korean art scene by introducing the exclusive artist system in 2005. In the past, Korean galleries did not represent artists or provide financial support for them, but Kim believed taking emerging artists into its fold and supporting them would be a way to help them achieve international recognition.
In an interview with The Korea Times late last year, Kim said Arario's role is to find and nurture an artist who will make an impact in the global art scene.
``The role of Arario is to find a good artist and create an environment where he can improve his art to a higher level, and support him financially so they can focus on their art. We're behind the artist to help improve their works so they can create powerful works,'' he said.
The gallery now has over 30 Korean and international artists. Arario generously supports its artists by providing financial support, management and a residency program on Jeju Island. Arario has a work studio and residency space in Hado-ri, Jeju, where artists can reside and solely concentrate on their art.
``Artists with Arario'' showcases diverse, innovative works by artists, who have been gaining recognition at home and abroad.
Kang Hyung-koo, who makes hyper-realistic portraits of famous figures like Van Gogh and Marilyn Monroe, is preparing for a solo show at the Singapore Art Museum in 2011. On display at the Arario Seoul are his striking works, ``Van Gogh in Red,'' and ``Marilyn Monroe in the Night Sky.''
Gwon Osang, known for his ``photographic sculptures,'' was the first Korean artist to have had a solo exhibition in the Manchester City Art Gallery in 2008. He uses photographs to create unique sculptures, such as ``with Lean,'' which can be viewed at the Arario Seoul.
Lee Hyung-koo, who presented at the Korean Pavilion at the 2007 Venice Biennale, is showing his ``Animatus'' series, wherein he created anatomical depictions of cartoon characters like Donald Duck and Bugs Bunny. Lee, as well as Chung Sue-jin, who participated in the Louis Vuitton exhibition in 2008, have been more active in the international scene than in Korea.
Three international artists Tallur L.N. and Jitish Kallat from India and Leslie de Chavez from the Philippines added a multicultural dimension to the exhibition. De Chavez ponders on Philippine history and society through his dark paintings filled with various symbols, while Tallur L.N. expresses his critical views of globalism and capitalism in his mixed media works.
Other Arario artists who are showing their works at the shows are Chang Sue-jin, Kyung Sung-hyun, Shine Kong, Kim In-bai, Kim Jae-hwan, Hanna Kim, Park Se-jin, Park Young-geun, Baik Hyun-jhin, Lee Dong-wook, Lee Seung-ae, Lee Ji-hyun and Lee Jin-yong.
The Cheonan show runs through March 21, and admission is 3,000 won. The Seoul show, which runs through March 30, is free. The galleries are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visit
|
