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Which online platforms should we visit to learn more about the contemporary art world in Korea?
Visiting the websites of various museums and galleries could be a good idea, but there are many online platforms that collect and curate an abundance of information about the Korean art world. Rather than simply listing ongoing exhibitions, the websites introduced in this article provide information that illustrates various aspects of the contemporary art scene in Korea.
Screen capture: Seoul Art Guide website.Seoul Art Guide is one of the longest-running websites in South Korea, sharing various information on visual arts centered in the country. It was initially introduced in September 2002 and reopened in April 2012 in its current form. Though the service is only available in Korean, the platform serves as an art portal, providing a comprehensive view of the Korean art world.
This website collects news from various Korean media outlets related to visual arts and culture and lists ongoing art exhibitions. It also serves as an archive of the Korean art world, with a directory of art experts, lists of exhibition spaces, websites, and associations. The website also posts critiques, essays, reviews, and columns by various art experts.
The Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS), a government agency affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MCST), runs several online platforms related to Korean visual art, including THE ARTRO and the Korean Art Market Information System (K-ARTMARKET).
THE ARTRO (www.theartro.kr)
Screen capture: THE ARTROTHE ARTRO, which opened in 2012, aims to provide Korean and international visitors with information on contemporary Korean art in both Korean and English. The website posts the most recent issues, exhibition listings, artist interviews, exhibition and art program reviews, as well as critiques and essays from various Korean art world experts.
Screen capture: K-ARTMARKET websiteOn the other hand, K-ARTMARKET, which opened in 2016, provides information in Korean about the Korean art market based on data collected from galleries, art fairs, and auction houses in Korea. The platform also provides art market reports and market analyses. In addition, it collects and analyzes sales information and market trends from auction results to create an art market database.
KAMS also runs K-ARTSHARING, a platform for galleries and artists; ARTMORE, a platform that allows art-related organizations to post job openings or find online lectures; Project VIA, a platform for art researchers; and a number of other platforms.
Screen capture: K-ARTNOW.COM website.When it comes to news and information websites on Korean contemporary art, K-ARTNOW.COM is the one to visit.
The website was launched in November 2021 and is operated by the Aproject Company. K-ARTNOW.COM, which focuses on contemporary art, presents information in both Korean and English regarding important issues happening in the Korean art world and uploads three posts on a weekly basis.
The platform delivers multiangled information on the Korean contemporary art world happening at home and abroad, including detailed introductions to exhibitions and artists as well as news on the Korean art market and the current situation of the Korean art scene.
To reach a broader international audience and enhance the understanding of Korean art from a global perspective, it also provides weekly news summaries on the global art world through World Art View (WAV).
K-ARTNOW.COM also sends out e-newsletters on Mondays about Korean art and on Thursdays about the global art world to its subscribers.
