Featured Events in Seoul in December, 2024 (June Updated)

The Korean Artist Award is a prize system and support program jointly organized by the National Museum of Contemporary Art (MMCA) and the SBS Foundation. Since its establishment in 2012, the award has selected four artists each year, provided support and exhibition opportunities for their new artistic creations, and continued to help them carry out international activities to showcase the potential of Korean contemporary art. Unlike previous exhibitions that mainly featured new works, starting in 2023, new works and artists' previous works will be organized together to broadly illuminate the artists' working worlds.

As you walk around the Seoul Museum of Craft, you will come across a variety of craft works. Just as each form was created to suit its use, the colors were not created by chance. The colors of each work reflect the artist’s thoughts and feelings. Artists devote themselves to research to find the most unique colors and repeat experiments to apply the desired colors to their works. No color is simple and can never be easily expressed. This exhibition is a record of the process in which craftsmen create their own colors, and a story about the time and dedication they put into it. The archive materials, including research notes on colors, poems, materials, and tools, are like looking at a palette filled with the unique colors that the artists wanted to express through their works. The three craftsmen in different fields, Noh Kyung-jo in ceramics, Lee Byeong-chan in dyeing, and Kim Heon-cheol in glass, all obtain colors from nature. Baking colors from the earth, dyeing colors from plants, and making colors shine more colorfully with light transmitted through glass. Creating colors is another way that craftsmen relate to nature. The colors they create enrich our daily lives and stimulate our senses. And these colors will meet you and create another relationship. I hope you will rediscover the colorful colors you witnessed in this exhibition and treasure them in your hearts. ※ ​​The Craft Archives exhibition is only open on weekdays (Tuesday to Friday). Please take note when viewing.

The first Baroque art exhibition in Korea and the largest in Asia, featuring Caravaggio, the founder of Baroque art, and other great masters who led the era.

Project Hashtag is a project curated by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art to discover creators leading the visual arts in Korea and to support mutual collaboration not only in art but also in various fields. Launched in 2019 with the support of Hyundai Motor Company, Project Hashtag celebrates its fifth anniversary in 2024 and builds it into a new level of competition project that experiments with the scalability of contemporary visual art. "Hashtag (#)", the name of the enterprise, is a special symbol that can be interpreted in many ways depending on the language, country, purpose, etc. It was first used by Chris Messina on Twitter (currently X) and is now widely used. Hashtag is a method of linking related topics in different posts by connecting # and keywords on SNS platforms, and in this way, links can be formed in countless cases. The guiding value of Project Hashtag is an attitude and practice that transcends traditional definitions and boundaries, just like a label, creating a structure that enables unpredictable connections and communication. Project Hashtag 2024 is a project that supports collaboration between creators, curators, and researchers in various fields, rather than focusing on traditional pure visual art, and involves a differentiated platform through which expanded artistic possibilities are explored. We also hope to actively embrace free sharing between different fields and further conduct marginal experiments on tensions and conflicts that arise within them. Project Hashtag 2024 opened for public submissions in March 2024. This year's applicants proposed not only convergence projects using the latest technologies such as generative AI, metaverse, and games, but also social experiments that address pressing contemporary issues. In particular, people's tendency to look at social issues such as new environments, interpersonal relationships, and changes in values ​​brought about by the introduction of AI technology into daily life from different perspectives, and to seek community solidarity through interaction with others was very evident. In the Project Hashtag 2024 showcase, "Wish Office (Kim Raeo, Choi Joonseong, Seo Jinkyu, Seo John, Oh Saeol), Playing Art Method (Cho Hoyoun, Kim Youngju, Rhee Sei)", proposed different themes in their own way through the medium of "games", introducing the projects of Ho-yeon Jo, Young-ju Kim, and Se-ok Lee. "Wish Office" builds a "wish world", a virtual world where everyone's wishes can come true. We proposed a social experiment game that examines modern society through the language of games, in which individual efforts are easily frustrated. The "Playing Art Method" addresses the problems that arise when games are displayed as works in art galleries, creating meaningful discourse through exhibitions, workshops and other methods to form a loose learning community.

Maria Svarbova, a photographer from Slovakia, has been recognized internationally for her work and popularity, starting with winning the International Photography Award in 2016, being selected as one of Forbes' 30 Most Influential People Under 30, and ranking first on the Hasselblad Masters List in the Art category in 2018. Reception Photographer. "Maria Svarbova: Yesterday's Future" is an exhibition that showcases 174 different works by Maria Svarbova, stimulating a sense of futurism and retro. The exhibition consists of 5 parts in total and is held at Ground Seoul, located in the Seoul Culture Center. An immersive exhibition is presented in a unique large space. Through a variety of media and exhibition presentation methods, you can feel the artist's unique trend sensibility, including the artist's representative works, the swimming pool series and the wall series, as well as photography, video and installation works. Various photo-taking areas with a sense of movie sets are set up in the exhibition hall, giving visitors the opportunity to participate and become the subject of the work. In addition, various educational programs and related events will be held to help you understand the exhibition more easily and enjoy it more deeply.

The Hermès Studio will host the solo exhibition "Paranoia Paradise" by the artist duo Nayoung Kim and Gregory Mars from November 22, 2024 to February 2, 2025. Since the beginning of their collaboration in 2004, the artists have expanded their awareness of artistic diversity and freedom through exhibitions at home and abroad for nearly 20 years, and in this exhibition they present their own extraordinary world of work with 60 new works. The artists, born in South Korea and Germany, met in France, a third country, and continue to live and work together, developing a world of work that eliminates the purity, hierarchy and norms of art based on mixed languages ​​and cultural experiences. . For them, the countless objects and images that exist in the world are interesting existences with cultural typicality in a specific time and space, and by being separated from their original purpose or context and handed over to the hands of the artists, they enter a new realm of artistic life. Through the strange combination of objects that the artists themselves call "Frankenstein", we go beyond clichés and enter a surprising and rich world of interpretation. At first glance, these works seem to be a collection of different objects, the product of "readymades" descended from Dadaism or Fluxus, trying to eliminate the gap between art and life, but in the case of Kim & Maas, they are "handmade" sculptures that require careful artistic adjustment, and they also have personality. The title of the exhibition, "Paranoid Paradise", is the superposition of two words with the same etymology but conflicting references, clearly revealing the world of the artist's work who likes tautology and contradictory puns. The combination of two or more objects often seems strange and inappropriate because it does not follow the standards of harmony or completeness, which inevitably involves the Korean society in which the artist currently lives, the contemporary hybrid imitation culture, and the shadow of art. Obsessed global capitalism has been covered up. In the representative work "Katie's Enlightenment" (2024), a large sculpture abandoned in a corner of the park was taken out and restored, and a cute expressionless icon and the father's hot air balloon regained their joyful and sad faces. It's like a halo attached, overcoming pain and entering nirvana. Nayoung Kim & Gregory Maas deal with objects and images without any limits, ranging from art history to kitsch and pop culture products, to daily necessities related to food, clothing, shelter and transportation, as well as leisure items suitable for people of all ages and genders. They coexist without hierarchy, just like the various parts and byproducts of the human body that maintain life through metabolism. The exhibition features modified works by Picasso and Henry Moore, as well as Minnie Mouse expressed in embroidery, screens written in English, and snot paintings. The artists' works are ironic and humorous, but never defined by a single meaning, bringing an experience that awakens a calm sense of reality, rather than entering the unconscious or surreal world through the "chance encounter" of objects.

Souimun Gate (昭義門) was once a prominent part of the Seoul City Wall during the Joseon dynasty. Situated between Sungnyemun and Donuimun Gates, it served as a key passageway to the southwest of Seoul. The area surrounding Souimun was a bustling hub of both land and water transportation, filled with people and goods during the Joseon era. Additionally, just outside Souimun was the site where individuals convicted of capital crimes, along with Catholics considered a threat to Neo-Confucian ideology, were executed. These public executions were meant to serve as a stark warning to passersby about the consequences of crime. In 1914, during the Japanese colonial period, Souimun was demolished to make way for road development, as it was seen as an impediment to modernization. This exhibition offers visitors a glimpse into Souimun's rich history, showcasing its role as both a guardian of the Seoul City Wall and a vibrant center of activity before its demolition.

More than a thousand years ago, Goryeo celadon was the product of the Goryeo people's high-level cutting-edge technology and unique aesthetics. Among them, figurative celadon with specific shapes such as animals, plants, and figures fully demonstrates the high level of craftsmanship and aesthetics of Goryeo celadon. In pictographic celadon, various shapes are expressed in a three-dimensional way. The addition of blue glaze gives people a lively feeling. Pictographic celadon, the crystallization of the best production technology and unremitting efforts, contains the world that the Goryeo people love. We reflect our world on these green containers and think about the world we want to contain. We invite you to step into the world of pictographic celadon, where there is infinite beauty and stories.

'This is an equal exchange. I give you half of my life... give me half of your life! ! ' The cumulative global circulation has exceeded 80 million copies! "Fullmetal Alchemist" is the best animation in the hearts of fans. South Korea debuted in the form of an exhibition for the first time. "Fullmetal Alchemist" is a complex and attractive world view, alchemy, adventure, and philosophical thinking. It is a masterpiece that is considered to be a perfect ending of manga and animation combined together. In 2021, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the serialization of the manga, the first exhibition opened in Tokyo, Japan. Passing through Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and finally landing in South Korea.

Join us this Sunday for Dark De Gary's Comedy Open Mic at Lit Lounge Itaewon! Whether you're here to enjoy the show or eager to step up to the mic and try your hand at stand-up comedy, you're guaranteed a fantastic time. Don't miss out on an evening of laughter and fun. See you there! Doors open at 7:30pm Show starts at 8pm Information Source: Planet Hustle | eventbrite

The Seoul International Sourcing Fair 2024, taking place from December 4 to December 6 at the renowned COEX Mall in Seoul, Korea, is set to be a pivotal event for industry professionals and businesses worldwide. This prestigious fair, known for its extensive array of products and services, offers an unparalleled platform for networking, innovation, and business growth. Attendees can expect to explore a diverse range of sourcing opportunities, from cutting-edge technology to unique consumer goods, all under one roof. With its strategic location in the heart of Seoul, the event promises easy access and a seamless experience for exhibitors and visitors alike. The Seoul International Sourcing Fair 2024 is an essential event for those looking to stay ahead in the competitive global market, providing invaluable insights and connections that can drive future success.

Seoul International Sourcing Fair is an event for promotional gifts and stationary items as well as household products Seoul International Sourcing Fair is an event for promotional gifts and stationary items as well as household products. This event show products like stationery products, office supplies and services, crafts and jewelries, tea and food, accessories, beauty and health products, home appliances, kitchenware and bathroom ware, apparel, quilts, smart phone accessories, interior decor accessories and printing services etc. in the Gifts & Handicrafts industry. Information Source: COEX Convention & Exhibition Ltd. | expotobi

Recording All Life National Geographic's most ambitious project, the Photo Ark

Lotte Museum presents the world of antique jewelry that has been hidden from sight. Jewelry is a human legacy that reflects the times, including politics, economy, art, etc. This exhibition brings together masterpieces from 5,000 years of history, from extremely rare ancient gems to the present. Please experience a fascinating time while appreciating the spirit of the times, aesthetics, and craftsmanship contained in jewelry created for beauty.