Arts & Design

Gallery heirs open up hip, compact art fair

A very compact but substantial art fair, titled “Solo Show: Paper,” started on Thursday near an entrance to the hip Gyeongnidan Street in central Seoul. Each of the 15 participating galleries presents works by a single artist in a mini booth installed in a space that was once a bar. [MOON SO-YOUNG]

A compact, but substantial art fair opened up on Thursday near an entrance to the hip Gyeongnidan Street in central Seoul. Titled “Solo Show: Paper,” each of the 15 participating galleries presents works by a single artist - mainly paintings and drawings on paper or sculptures made of paper - in a mini booth installed in a space that was once a bar.

Many of the works have price tags that don’t exceed 1 million won ($841). Visitors will be surprised to discover that the participating galleries include prestigious ones like Hakgojae, Gana Art and Johyun, as well as well-known young galleries.

The fair was actually created by the heirs of Korean major galleries and founders of new galleries, mainly in their 30s and 40s, in a move to promote young artists and to appeal to new collectors in creative ways.

The organization is led by Jung Jae-ho, head of Gallery2, Yeo Joon-soo, manager of Gallery Chosun, and Kim In-seon, head of Space Willing N Dealing.

“It’s fun and meaningful to brainstorm together how to display works in a narrow space and decide other things,” Jung said.

BY MOON SO-YOUNG [symoon@joongang.co.kr]

The fair runs through Monday. Admission is free. The venue is located at Noksapyeong-daero 238, Yongsan District. Visit www.soloshow.info for more information.