Asia’s largest urban art fair 'Urban Break 2021' opens Wednesday

Asia’s largest urban art fair “Urban Break 2021” will open on Wednesday and run until Aug. 1 at Coex in southern Seoul. [URBAN BREAK 2021]

Asia’s largest urban art fair “Urban Break 2021” will open on Wednesday and run until Aug. 1 at Coex in southern Seoul.

The fair, which centers on urban contemporary art and street culture, features over 1,200 works by approximately 100 artists. The opening ceremony and everything on display will be streamed on YouTube, as the fair aims to be held both online and offline as a new paradigm for art shows in the Covid-19 pandemic.

World-renowned doodle artist Jon Burgerman as well as Backside Works, Koh Sang-woo and Qwaya are among the star-studded list of participating artists.

Actor-turned-artist Park Ki-woong will also take part, displaying hats he created.

Aiming to be a “loud” art fair, “Urban Break 2021” has several programs prepared to entertain visitors and viewers, including a Media Street Wall & NFT special exhibition which features an 18-meters-wide (59-feet-wide) screen and live drawing performances.

This year, the fair collaborated with the Korea Federation for Environmental Movements and will present environmental, social and corporate governance artwork and projects emphasizing eco-friendliness, sustainability and other social values.

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]