[비즈한국] “I take pride in the fact that this exhibition establishes a perspective on Korean art history.” Jeon Jun-yeop, an art editor at Bizhankook and the curator of the Korea Art Support Project, assessed the 2025 Korea Art Support Project exhibition, which opened on the 12th, with these words.
The 2025 Korea Art Support Project exhibition opened on the 12th at the Insa Art Center located in Insa-dong, Seoul. Hosted by ‘Bizhankook’ and ‘Ilyo Shinmun’ and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korea Art Support Project exhibition is an art exhibition that discovers and introduces Korean artists. Now in its 10th year, the project has introduced over 220 artists to date. The exhibition also unveiled a newly branded logo.
This year, 70 works by 19 artists have brought Insa-dong to life. The selected artists are those who have quietly pursued their own work regardless of age, career, or genre. Some are taking their first steps into the art world, while others are seasoned professionals with rich careers. There are also artists who have gained attention in the art market and are actively pursuing their careers through this project.
The Korea Art Support Project exhibition captures ‘10 years’ of Korean art history. Project curator Jeon Jun-yeop said, “This is a unique project that no other media outlet, cultural organization, or government agency has ever attempted. The 10-year history has created a perspective to observe the flow of contemporary Korean art. Recently, there has been a notable attempt to interpret new techniques and Korean aesthetics in a modern way. All of this is captured in the exhibition. The age range of participants is also diverse, from college students to artists in their 70s.”
Kim Won-yang, CEO of Ilyo Shinmun, delivered a congratulatory speech, saying, “Art has always been present in places that heal the wounds of society. Reflection, empathy, and healing are things we feel while viewing works of art. I believe that various artistic activities will also help our society find comfort and stand up again.”
Lee Young-soo, chairman of the Korea Art Support Project Association, said, “I am grateful that we were able to hold such a wonderful exhibition during difficult times. It holds great significance that we have been supporting artists and conducting exhibitions for over 10 years.”
The Korea Art Support Project Association is a group voluntarily formed by artists who participated in the Korea Art Support Project, and they are actively holding exhibitions every year. This year, they are also planning to hold an exhibition at the Hyehwa Art Center in Hyehwa-dong this September.
Works with diverse techniques and genres caught the eyes of visitors, including artist Park Yong-il, who paints harmonious wrapping cloths; Kim Gro, who paints happy memories; Park Jong-hwa, who paints movie-like scenes; Kim Ki-seop, who presents fantastic yet solitary landscapes; and Kim Yeon, who comforts audiences with landscapes.
Artist Lee Sun-woo, who participated in the exhibition for the first time, said, “This exhibition serves as my debut. I am truly grateful for giving opportunities to emerging artists. I tried to capture daily life in my work. I hope anyone who sees my work feels a sense of comfort.”
Artist Choi Won-seok, who expresses traditional Korean coloring in a modern way, shared his feelings: “Although I have held 56 solo exhibitions, this is my first time in an exhibition of this kind. I felt it was very meaningful, so I readily agreed to participate. I painted cats using traditional coloring techniques, inspired by stories I heard from my grandparents when I was young.”
Artist Park Young-ha, who is a participant and also designed the logo for this exhibition, said, “I created the logo using various geometric shapes. In particular, I composed it in red and blue, mimicking the colors of a Cheongsa Chorong (traditional Korean lantern).”
Visitors also gave rave reviews. Many praised the sophisticated sense and unique techniques. One visitor, pointing to Kim Yeon-ju’s work, said, “Combining pets with liquor brands is very creative. I wanted to buy the work, but it was already sold, which is a pity.” A visitor in their 60s said, “The work is truly fresh and lively. I like that it seems to have adopted a youthful sensibility.”
This exhibition runs until Monday, the 17th, at the main gallery on the first floor of the Insa Art Center in Jongno-gu, and can be viewed for free from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily.