By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

뉴욕에서 활동중인 크리스티나 강은 서울과 뉴욕 사이의 갭을 예술을 이용하여 연결하고 있다.
New York-based businesswoman Christina Kang is using art to bridge the gap between Seoul and New York.

Through her company Paradigm Art, Kang introduces contemporary Korean art to American clients and international contemporary art to Korean clients.

그녀의회사 페러다임 아트를 통해 한국의 현대미술을  미국의 크라이언트에게, 국제적인 현대미술을 한국 클라이언트에게 소개하고있다. 그러나 비지니스스타일이다르다.페러다임 아트는 판매하지않고주로 작품을  사람들을 교육하는데 초점을 마추고있다.
But unlike others in the business, Paradigm Art is mainly focused on educating people about art and not just selling it.

``A lot of people need an education in order to train your eye, to appreciate and to buy art. For example, I can say `this is one of the best contemporary art works' and you may not agree with me on why this is one of the best contemporary art works," Kang told The Korea Times in an interview last week. "But once you get to know what it is about, meet the artist, you can personalize the experience and it becomes yours. It's easier and better for me to sell art, which falls into the art consulting category."

 

" 많은 사람들이 눈을 훈련하고, 감상하고 예술을 구매하기위한 교육이 필요하다. 예를들어  이러한 것이 가장 훌륭한 작품의 하나라고 말할 수 있다. 그리고 왜 이러한 일이 가장좋은 현대미술품의 하나인지 당신은 동의 하지않을 수도 있다  강은 지난주 코리아 타임지와의 인터뷰에서 "그러나 당신이 무엇인가를 알게되면 작가를 만나서 경험을 축적,개인화하게 되고 그것들이 곧 당신것이 될것이다". 라고 강은 말한다.이것이 내가 작품을 판매하는것 보다 쉽고 아트 컨설팅 영역에 빠지게 되는 이유이다."
Kang has been in the business for 10 years. In 1999, she founded Paradigm Art (www.paradigmart.com) in New York with the vision ``to raise the awareness of visual culture in society internationally." Her company's unique proposition attracted media attention, including features on CNN and PBS.

The company organizes gallery tours, studio visits, private cultural events, lectures and artist talks, so people can learn more about art in-depth. Her clients include the Asia Society, Lehman Brothers, Hyundai, Singapore Art Museum, Brown University and Harvard Business School.

``I want people to know that not only expensive art is good. Price is not relevant to good art," Kang said. "That's why I'm geared towards education. I'm a profit company, but I'm working as a non-profit to educate people. I'm looking at the long term. I want my clients to stay as my clients forever."

With her Korean background and European and American education, Kang is more than capable of acting as the link between the U.S. and Korean art worlds. At 16, she left Korea to attend the International High School in Geneva, Switzerland. She fancied becoming an artist, so she majored in textile design at the Rhode Island School of Design.

``I wasn't so confident about being an artist because it is such a lonely and long journey. But I figured I'm pretty good with people so I was pondering and searching myself. I discovered I'm good at promoting art and making connections with people. So I went to New York University for my masters in art administration," she said.

``It's pretty much like being an art agent. You find a talented artist, you find collectors and you match them. I'm sort of an art matchmaker. It's a funny expression, but that's basically what it is. I've been doing it for 10 years now."

Kang also sees herself as a ``cultural ambassador" for both Seoul and New York, having curated exhibitions featuring artists from both cities.

Paradigm Art offers a VIP program which introduces the New York art scene to Korean businessmen, and Korean culture to American businessmen. Kang is particularly keen on giving American clients a taste of what Korean culture is really about.

``You could say I'm a cultural matchmaker, cultural ambassador and cultural lobbyist … Culture is another leading item in the 21st century. Korea is also one of the cultural leaders in Asia. We have beautiful art and culture, but it's just undiscovered. I feel so privileged to give my time to show Korea to my clients," she said.

Paradigm Art is also stepping up its efforts to attract Korean women and students. For single Korean women, Paradigm Art offers the ``Art in the City" program, referencing the popular HBO series ``Sex in the City."

``These golden misses like to travel and want to have a fun experience in New York. It's not just about art, but also fashion and lifestyle," she said.

The NY Biz Program gives students and young professionals a chance to experience the art scene, as well as meeting professionals working in galleries and museums in New York.

Kang, who is the only Korean woman in the art consulting business in New York, does not seem to run out of enthusiasm when talking about her company.

``I'm right in the middle ... My company is very unique and forward looking. And I get to meet very interesting, culturally open-minded people … I love my job," she says with a smile.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr