ARARIO GALLERY Unveils Dynamic Sculptural and Painterly Expressions at KIAF Seoul 2024

ARARIO GALLERY is thrilled to announce its participation in KIAF Seoul 2024, slated to run from September 4 (Wednesday) to September 8 (Sunday) at the COEX convention center in Seoul. Renowned for spotlighting artists who defy traditional norms and explore challenging themes, ARARIO GALLERY continues this legacy with its booth (A19) at this year’s event. The exhibition will showcase a rich array of works by eight exceptional artists—comprising four distinguished and rising Korean sculptors alongside four contemporary painters from Korea and Japan. This initiative underscores the gallery’s dedication to promoting artistic voices that have cultivated unique languages through their experimental use of diverse materials and media.

Among the illustrious artists featured, GWON Osang (b. 1974) is set to present his work at the 7th Changwon Sculpture Biennale (September 27 – November 10), while DON Sunpil (b. 1983) will participate in the Leeum Museum’s 2024 Art Spectrum: Dream Screen (September 5 – December 29). Additionally, the booth will feature the recent works of KANG Cheolgyu (b. 1990), who has been honored as one of the top 10 semi-finalists in this year’s KIAF Highlights.

The four sculptors gracing the booth each offer a distinctive exploration of the concept and boundaries of ‘sculpture,’ forging innovative forms and thematic directions. GWON Osang, celebrated for his ‘photo-sculpture’ series, blends the two-dimensionality of photography with the three-dimensional nature of sculpture, pioneering new forms through material variation. His work, Composition (2024), is a homage to Henry Moore’s (1898-1986) Reclining Figure, forming part of his acclaimed series Deodorant Type. Additionally, the exhibit will showcase his new relief pieces, Wind Hole Relief (2024), which rethink the significance of ‘holes’ in modern sculpture. These lightweight, photo-collage-covered pieces challenge conventional perceptions of sculptural identity.

KIM Byoungho’s (b. 1974) geometric sculpture 30 Vertical Gardens (2023) merges the city’s vertical imagery with the concept of an artificial nature garden, achieving a unique balance that reflects the aesthetics of modern civilization. DON Sunpil draws from subculture elements, incorporating materials like animation and figurines—often deemed peripheral—into mainstream art discourses. LEE Jeongbae (b. 1974) reconfigures fragmented urban landscape images into geometric forms. His sculptures, painted in vivid pigments, reinterpret contemporary landscapes by reimagining urban nature tailored to human needs through the language of Sansuhwa.

The exhibition also spotlights the diverse techniques and expressive forms of four contemporary painters from Korea and Japan, showcasing their unique perspectives and artistic compositions. KANG Cheolgyu projects his inner world onto the canvas with hybrid creatures in works like Mermaids Fishing, Goats Falling (2024), symbolizing irony and surreal life contradictions. NOH Sangho (b. 1986) has developed a unique oeuvre centered on paintings derived from online imagery. His new works from The Great Chapbook (2024) and Holy (2024) series will be prominently displayed at the booth.

AN Gyungsu (b. 1975) captures forgotten suburban landscapes, termed “floating landscapes,” with delicate brushstrokes that immortalize peripheral objects, memories, and sensations. Yuki SAEGUSA (b. 1987) experiments with various materials and media, focusing on oil and tempera paintings. Her works seamlessly blend traditional Japanese landscape painting (Sansuga), Northern European Flemish art, and anime-like imagery, resulting in intricately detailed, fictional landscapes rooted in her everyday experiences, memories, and imagination.

ARARIO GALLERY’s presence at KIAF Seoul 2024 promises a compelling exploration of contemporary sculptural and painterly expressions, bringing together innovative artistic practices from Korea and Japan. The exhibition not only highlights the artists’ unique contributions to contemporary art but also fosters a deeper understanding of their experimental approaches and thematic diversities. Join us at booth A19 to experience the intersection of tradition and innovation, as these remarkable artists redefine the boundaries of art.