11 Dec 2023
2023 Dive into Korean Art: Seoul
Although I wasn’t yet aware of the full size of the group, I had traveled to Seoul as one of sixteen art curators and writers gathered from around the globe by the Korean Arts Management Service (KAMS)--an organization I knew little about prior to receiving a tantalizing invitation in my inbox to join them for "Dive into Korean Art," four days of studio visits, networking opportunities, and cultural immersion leading up to the opening of the Frieze Seoul and Kiaf art fairs. During this time we would spend several hours a day on a bus which shuttled us from studio to studio in far flung corners of Seoul?some nestled in the sanctuary of art spaces and others tucked away in nondescript buildings otherwise occupied by an assortment of businesses. What we came to learn quickly was that studio space in Seoul comes at a premium and early career artists are constantly on the lookout for support structures that help sustain their practice. This is why organizations like KAMS are crucial to their development?in addition to bringing an international group of arts professionals to their studios, KAMS promised to extend financial support for publications and exhibitions throughout the coming year.