2012.9.12 MUSEUMS&GALLERIES

2012 KOREA INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR (KIAF)

COEX, Gangnam District

From tomorrow to Monday: In this 11th edition of the nation's biggest art fair, 181 galleries from 20 countries will offer about 5,000 paintings, sculptures, photos, installation works and other works.

Among the most expensive and must-see works are Mexican artist Gabriel Orozco's abstract painting "Samurai Tree 22T" (see photo) presented by Korea's PKM Gallery and Colombian Fernando Botero's painting of a plump woman, "Mujer Entrando a Su Casa", presented by Colombia's Galeria La Cometa, fair organizers said.

Works by many Latin American artists will be on display as this year's designated guest region is Latin America.
Other eye-catching works include Kohei Nawa's sculpture "PixCell-Deer #24", presented by Korea's Arario Gallery, according to the fair organizers. The young Japanese artist also has a solo show at the gallery's branches in southern Seoul and Cheonan, South Chungcheong, until Nov. 14.

Admission is 15,000 won ($13.30) for adults. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. It will be closed at 5 p.m. on its last day. Go to Samseong station, line No. 2, exit 5 or 6.

(02) 766-3702~4, www.kiaf.com

THE REMAINS: JINYOUNG YOON

Gallery Kong, Jongno District

To Friday: The solo show of photographer Yoon consists of close-up pictures of objects and sculptures of human heads covered with mold.

From them, viewers can sense not only death and decay but also vitality of the mold as the photos show ironical co-existence of death and life. In addition, the various colors and texture of mold can lead viewers to feel grotesque beauty and disgust at the same time.

Admission is free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The gallery is closed on Mondays. Go to Anguk station, line No.3, exit 1 and walk 20 minutes.

(02) 738-7776, www.gallerykong.com

HAN MOOK

Gallery Hyundai,Gangnam District

To Sunday: The retrospective of Han Mook features about 40 paintings by the 99-year-old Paris-based Korean artist. Paintings on display were done from the early 1950s to 2000s, showing the history of not only the artist but also Korean geometric abstract art.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily except Monday. Go to Apgujeong Station, line No. 3, exit 2 or 3, and walk 10 minutes.

(02) 519-0800, www.galleryhyundai.com

FAMILIAR SCENERY

Opera Gallery, Gangnam District

To Sept. 30: The exhibition features four artists who see and bring out unfamiliar images or new views from familiar scenery surrounding us.

Photographer Lee Myoung-ho transforms ordinary nature into an apparent painting in his "Tree" series. In these photos, a tree looks like a life-sized photo or realistic painting of a tree printed on a white screen set up in an empty field - but the tree is actually a real tree with a screen behind it.

Yeleen Lee takes photos of buildings and passersby reflected on puddles on streets after rain. Then, she turns the pictures upside down and give colors only to part of the reflections, making a surreal landscape. The other two participants are painters Lee Dong-uk and Chae Sung-pil.

Admission is free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Go to Cheongdam Station, line No. 7, exit 9, and walk for 10 minutes.

(02) 3446-0070, www.operagallery.com

By Moon So-young