Seoul turns into a mecca for international art enthusiasts this September as the city stages Seoul Art Week from the second to the eighth of the month.

Key events during the period are the Korea International Art Festival (KIAF) slated for 4 to 8 September, and Frieze Seoul which runs from 4 to 7 September. Both events will be staged at the COEX Convention and Exhibition Centre in the capital’s Gangnam district.

Aside from these keynote events, other art-related activities are slated in different parts of the city, welcoming both local and foreign  art enthusiasts.

Asia’s biggest contemporary art festival 

Considered the largest exhibition of contemporary art in Asia, Seoul’s KIAF is South Korea’s first and most prominent international art event.

Initially staged in 2002, the event quickly evolved beyond expectations even as Seoul became a vibrant regional hub for the global art market. Indeed, KIAF is seen as a venue where art connects people, both artists and art lovers alike, to provide an unforgettable experience.

Throughout more than two decades, KIAF brings leading artists under one roof to bridge the gap between the domestic art scene and the global field.

Living art

Frieze Seoul, on the other hand, is geared towards the performing arts in terms of both film and theatrical performances.

Festival director Pat Lee said of the upcoming event: “The expansive programming at Frieze Seoul is set to highlight the vibrancy and momentum of Korea’s contemporary art scene.”

This year marks the third edition of the festival, as well as the debut of a new addition: Frieze LIVE.

Titled 신·경(神經): ‘Nerve or Divine Pathway’, this debut series is curated by Art Sonje Centre’s project director Je Yun Moon.

Made up of five performances by seven artists, each one explores how movement, sound and visual elements can extend poetic expression, transforming the human body into a language, and poetry into a multisensory experience. 

Those performing at Frieze LIVE’s debut run are artists Cha Yeonså, Jesse Chun, Hong Ji Young, Jang Sumi, and Kim Wonyoung & Project YYIN (Rha Sinae, Choi Kisub).