Building the future? Despite uncertainty, some international galleries expand in Seoul

Despite the prevailing cautious atmosphere in the Korean art scene amid the country's political turmoil and economic slowdown, some international galleries are pushing ahead with proactive decisions -- expanding their spaces and choosing to represent Korean artists here.

Portuguese gallery Duarte Sequeira, which opened its space in Seoul in 2022 in Gangnam-gu, southern Seoul, has moved to Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, central Seoul, opening its doors to the public on Thursday.

“This expansion marks a significant milestone in our journey, reflecting our dedication to engaging with Seoul’s vibrant art scene,” said Duarte Sequeira, a second-generation gallerist. “By establishing our presence in this energetic neighborhood, we aim to offer visitors a more comprehensive experience of our artists and programs, fostering deeper connections within Seoul’s art community.”

Since the opening of its Seoul branch in September 2022, it has introduced a diverse range of artists to Korea through 15 exhibitions and projects. The previous space was located on the second floor of Yoo Hyun-joon Architecture Office in Gangnam-gu.

In choosing Hannam-dong, Hannah Yun, director of the gallery’s Seoul branch, said they found the neighborhood to be ideal for meeting collectors, located between two other art clusters in Seoul -- Cheongdam-dong and Samcheong-dong.

The first exhibition at the new space is “fresh floral ice milk soft blue bruise,” which brings together a new series of digital paintings by American artist Petra Cortright.

Italian gallery Massimodecarlo announced Thursday it will represent Korean artist Hejum Ba, making her the first Korean artist the gallery has signed since opening its Seoul studio in Gangnam-gu last year. Ba is the second Korean artist to join the gallery’s roster following Yee Soo-kyung, who was represented in 2019.

Massimodecarlo will present three of the artist’s paintings at the upcoming Art Basel Hong Kong, scheduled from March 28 to 30. The gallery showcased Ba’s first solo exhibition at Massimodecarlo Hong Kong in 2024.

“Hejum’s paintings are not mere random arrangements of lines and color fields. Rather, they represent a meticulous dissection and abstraction of the peculiarities of our contemporary experiences. … Hejum Ba looks and listens at what surrounds her. To the artist, the seeming schizophrenia of modern life is neither foreign nor bizarre, but rather a familiar muse,” the gallery noted on her works shown at the Hong Kong exhibition last year.

European gallery Esther Schipper launched its project space in 2022 in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, and recently moved to Hannam-dong in February as a new gallery space better suited to large-scale exhibitions.

Its move to invest in the Seoul gallery is part of its efforts to continue its commitment to the Korean art scene as a gallery that was engaged with the art scene for over a decade before it had a physical space, working with local artists, institutions and collectors, according to the gallery.

“The remarkable and rapid ascent of Seoul as a global art hub has been fascinating and a privilege to be part of,” said Esther Schipper, founder of the gallery. “We have observed that the Korean art market is dynamic and highly engaged, with a strong appreciation for both established and emerging contemporary art. There is an increasing openness to experimental and interdisciplinary practices, which resonates with our gallery’s program and vision.”

Along with Seoul, the gallery runs spaces in Berlin and Paris.