Wasps, Wasabi, and Wildcards: Seoul’s Art Scene Stings and Sings at Kiaf
A forgotten paper door, once home to wasps and now layered with an artist’s paint, greets visitors at Kiaf 2024—a fitting symbol for the fair’s blend of tradition and transformation. This year, the Korean International Art Fair unfolds as Seoul pulses with simultaneous biennales and the neighboring Frieze Seoul, yet Kiaf’s heart beats to its own rhythm.
Here, 130 out of 206 galleries are Korean, spotlighting the country’s creative roots and its appetite for nurturing homegrown talent. The fair’s nonprofit backbone keeps the focus on sustainable growth, even as international galleries test the waters. Local collectors, known for their research-driven approach, gravitate toward smaller, livable works, while a 0% art tax sweetens the deal for buyers.
International names may draw headlines, but it’s the steady hum of Korean galleries and collectors that shapes the fair’s unique tempo. In Seoul, art isn’t just on display—it’s in motion, quietly remaking the rules of the global market.
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