The Seoul Open Art Fair is happening at Coex Mall in Gangnam this weekend. Perhaps to distinguish itself from the myriad of other art fairs, perhaps as an ever-too-predictable form of Korean celebrity worship, the fourth annual SOAF had significant floor/ wall space reserved for "celebrity" artists. That alone would seem good enough reason to skip (writing about) the event completely.
Upon entering the hall, a couple prints of Damien Hirst's diamond skulls glittered like McDonald's signs (they are the golden arches of the art world these days) and the rest of the fair exhibited many of the predictable heavy-hitters of the Korean contemporary art scene: Chun Kwangyoung, Kim Tschang (Chang)-Yeul. However, besides these more predictable staples (and the celeb-art), there is always something new to be discovered.
One such artist for me was Kim Hee Jin. His work is currently being exhibited at Keumsan Gallery in Paju (north of Seoul). A small work of his was selling for 600,000 won (US$450), believe it or not. A minuscule amount in this market, which (for some reason) has showed little signs of slowing.
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