2023
Kiaf SEOUL 2023 welcomed 210 galleries from 20 countries and territories, and attracted over 80,000 visitors. Kiaf PLUS, which was held at SETEC last year, moved to the COEX Grand Ballroom, again showcasing contemporary art with a focus on young galleries and artists. During the fair, the third edition of "We Connect, Art & Future, Kiaf and INCHEON AIRPORT" was held at Incheon Airport, while the media art special exhibition "Gray Box Area: Space as an Event" and the Kiaf special exhibition "Rehyun Park and Saengkwang Park, Hometown to the Unadulterated Colors" were held at COEX, providing a venue for exploring Korean art, both traditional and contemporary. The ambitious Talks Program was co-organize with Frieze, which was held jointly for the second time since last year, and KAMS, holding nine in-depth art dialogues with prominent art world figures over three days. In addition, to promote and support the artists participating in Kiaf, the Kiaf Highlights program was also established. Among the 20 artists selected in the program, three final winners were chosen through on-site judging by the program's original jury and online voting by visitors. The finalists received the creative grant "Kiaf Highlights Award". In addition, a variety of other events were held in conjunction with the participating galleries and other institutions, such as talk nights, the Cheongdam and Samcheong nights, docent programs, as well as Kiaf's own ON Night party.
2022
Kiaf SEOUL participated in 163 galleries from 17 countries, and Kiaf PLUS participated in 73 galleries from 10 countries, presenting the largest Asian art fair with a total of 236 galleries participating. By co-hosting with Frieze, Seoul was able to establish itself as the most important art hub in Asia. The second edition of the highly-acclaimed "We Connect, Art & Future, Kiaf and INCHEON AIRPORT" special exhibition was held at Incheon First Airport, with the focus on NFT and new media, which emerged as the most important topic of 2022's art world. The NFT exhibition with the highest recognition, BAYC (Bored Ape Yacht Club) and BAGC (Bored Ape Golf Club), was also held. Along with Frieze, various programs were held in collaboration with museums, galleries, and art centers, including the Samcheong Night event. The talk program included renowned domestic and international art figures, such as Hans Ulrich Obrist, Cristo Ruiz, and Suhanya Raffel, participating as panelists and forming in-depth discussions.
2021
Kiaf SEOUL 2021, which celebrated its 20th anniversary, introduced 170 galleries around the world to the audience. About 88,000 visitors came to the fair over the 5-days period and total sales were recorded at 65 Billion KRW. The new logo was introduced through BI (Brand Identity) renewal, and a special exhibition “We Connect, Art & Future, Kiaf and INCHEON AIRPORT” was held in collaboration with Incheon International Airport to commemorate the 20th anniversary. At the same time, Online Viewing Room and Discovering Galleries programs were operated.
2020
Due to the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19, KIAF SEOUL 2020 has been held as anonline art fair. The website was reorganized, and the OVR (Online Viewing Room) wasmade to showcase more than 4,000 works from 139 galleries from September 16 toOctober 18. During the month-long event, 37,000 visitors visited online and recordedmore than 740,000 page views. The special exhibition "Seeing the Deep Resonance –Korea Modern Contemporary Abstract Exhibition" was also held online, highlightingKorean abstract art's diverse trends and extraordinary uniqueness in various genres,including painting and sculpture, and providing a deeper understanding. The INSIGHTS,which consists of three categories: STORIES, ARTICLES, and LIVE&TALK, introducedcontents on various topics, including promotion of exhibitions for participating galleries,online talks with domestic and foreign art professionals, collectors and artists talks, andperformances. It also released a mobile app book tailored to online platforms.
2019
In 2019, KIAF SEOUL attracted 82,000 spectators, which is a 130% increase from the previous year, and recorded the highest sales record ever with a total turnover of 31 billion won. The special exhibition of the year, "Romanticism in History-Korean Modernism Painting Exhibition" shed light on Korean Modern artists. It was celebrated as a meaningful moment re-examining the Korean modern art artists in the dynamic Korean contemporary art market. A total of 38 modernization paintings by 26 Korean artists were exhibited, offering a fresh view of the exquisiteness of ‘our painting, our modern art’. 《KIAF ART KIDS》 also returned to KIAF in 2019. Together with creative art educators, kids explored the works of artists participating in KIAF SEOUL 2019 and engaged in six different exciting art activities programmed for children’s eyes.
2018
Through newly applied designs, KIAF SEOUL in 2018 highlighted its identity. Various world-class lecturers were gathered to provide a variety of conversation programs, unveiling the flow of the art market. Furthermore, a special exhibition 《ARTIST PROEJCT》 was organized in conjunction with the Gwangju Biennale, showcasing works by four artists participating in the biennale that year. Given Gwangju Biennale’s historical significance and its presence in the international art scene, the special collaboration with KIAF provided a unique intersection with discussions around contemporary art and the art market.
2017
By nurturing the continued growth of the Korean art market and serving as a conduit between Asia and the international scene, KIAF SEOUL became a principal destination for art professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. It was a year various changes were made, and the total transaction amount hit about 27 billion won, the highest sales record. The focus was on qualitative development rather than an outward expansion. Thus, the guest of honor system was brought to an end after eleven years of running. KIAF SEOUL launched two new divisions in 2017, titled HIGHLIGHT and Solo Project. These platforms helped to promote Korean artists in the global art world. There were two special exhibitions called “Ineffable Things,” a special exhibition on media art was presented both in and outside of the venue, and “Explores of Experiment and Challenge,” an archive exhibition illuminated the 50-year-history of Korean performance art. More strengthened conversation programs and lectures proved that KIAF SEOUL is expanding beyond the art trade arena into a more prominent cultural event and exhibition platform.
2016
The guest country of honor was Taiwan and its eleven most prominent galleries were invited to represent the Taiwanese contemporary art scene. The country newly emerged as the center of Asian contemporary art and played a leading role in the Asian art industry. Around a thousand overseas collectors were invited, the largest number yet. The ‘Special Hallway’ exhibition was expanded to z form of a competition, allowing individual artists as well as various domestic and foreign organizations to participate. Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Arts Management Service, a program titled “Gallery Weekend Korea” was launched for the first time to support and promote Korean galleries and its affiliated artists to overseas markets, thereby strengthening their networks with the international art community. ‘K-Art Conversation’ was one of the programs, during which industry professionals of international clout gathered to offer their insights and views on a broad spectrum of issues.
2015
In 2015, the official name of KIAF has been changed to KIAF SEOUL, in line with a vision to broaden its scope from Asia to the world. To mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, Japan was selected as the guest country of honor. Twenty galleries participated, the largest number ever. Also, with the sponsorship of the Lotte Department Store, the "Japanese Contemporary Art Special Exhibition" was held to give an overview of the current state of Japanese contemporary art. Kohei Nawa, Yayoi Kusama, Yoshitomo Nara, and other distinguished Japanese artists participated, drawing attention from the global art market. Special Hallway, a special exhibition comprised of large sculptures and installations, was newly introduced. By converting the hallway spaces into a space for avant-garde sculptural work, the new addition demonstrated that KIAF SEOUL is more than a simple venue for art transactions, but it is a ground for creativity and innovation. In addition, as monochromatic paintings became more and more popular, galleries brought forward numerous monochromatic paintings they have possessed behind the doors. The Asia Pacific Art Gallery Alliance (APAGA), an association of galleries from Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, China, Australia and Hong Kong, decided to promote mutual cooperation to promote art fairs in each country. The partnership between APAGA and KIAF SEOUL acted as the cornerstone of establishing "One Asia" in the future.
2014
In 2014, KIAF SEOUL attracted a record of 88,000 spectators and 22 participating countries. Southeast Asia was selected as the guest country of honor, resulting in thirteen galleries from six countries including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia and the Philippines participating. Related to this, a special exhibition “The State of Southern Asian Contemporary Art and Its Market” was curated. “Art Flash: Art for Future Sense,” a Korean special exhibition, presented artworks of Interactive Media Art. By introducing these artworks responding directly to and communicated with the viewer’s movements and touches acted as a driving force for cultural enrichment.
2013
The year 2013 was very special for Germany and Korea, marking the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and 50th anniversary of the dispatch of more than 10,000 miners and nurses to Germany. The two events were significant to everyone in the history of Korea and Germany. Germany presented a special exhibition titled “Art Market–Art Public”. “Art Flash: Two or Three Things We Know About Paik Nam June,” a Korean special exhibition presented a poetic vision created by a combination of insight into Paik Nam June, who had a profound impact on modern art history. Furthermore, a special exhibition titled “Gabriele Heidecker Art Affairs” was curated. The works of a Berlin photographer Gabriel Heitecker were presented, who worked on acclaimed art fairs around the world.
2012
Marking the 50th anniversary of Korea-Latin America diplomatic relations, Latin America, an emerging star in the global art market, was selected as the guest country of honor in 2012. The special exhibition "Contemporary Art of Latin America, The Rising Star of the Global Art Market," acted as a ground for discovering the present Latin American art scene that had developed into a new form in a mixed cultural background. Following the previous year, the “Art Flash” special exhibition introduced works by young Korean artists in their 20s and 30s, providing a glimpse into the possibility of the self-reliance of Korean contemporary art under a more independent cultural environment.
2011
The number of young visitors doubled compared to previous years. Australia, the guest country of honor of 2011, participated in the special exhibition "Against Insularity: Selling Art in Australia". A special exhibition titled "Art Flash: Media & Installation Art" was organized, which selected Korean media artists who were active in the domestic and foreign art markets and presented a diversity of genres away from painting-oriented art fairs. It consisted of media art, installation art, and kinetic art.
2010
By examining the current state and issues of contemporary art in Britain, the guest country of honor in 2010, the visitors were able to look back on British contemporary art at the time. The special exhibition "Creative Power: Korean Media Art" recounted the past and present of media art, which is a representative genre of the 21st century. Starting from Paik Nam June's video art, the works of leading Korean artists combined with various genres of art, including installation and sculpture, provided a glimpse of the local media art and its latent creativity.
2009
The special exhibition "Failed Plans" and related programs that comprehensively showed trends in modern Indian art have provided a platform for promoting the excellence and potential development of Indian art. In addition, through a special exhibition titled “Modern Boy Modern Girl – Modernism and Modernity in Korea,” the visitors looked at what modernity is in the modernization process and flow of Korean art from the 1920s to the mid-1950s. It was also the first year of "KIDS in KIAF," a children's art program designed to help children become friends with art.
2008
In 2008, 218 galleries participated in KIAF, setting a new record. Switzerland was selected as the guest country of honor and talked about its identity through the works of three young artists at the special exhibition "What You Get Is What You Want". The special exhibition "A Moonlit Garden" showed the representative nature of Korean art through the works of 10 veteran Korean artists who are active in the domestic and international art arena and play a pivotal role in Korean art.
2007
The size of KIAF has doubled from the previous year and has grown into a large art fair with more than 17.5 billion won in total transactions. A total of 208 galleries participated, and Spain was selected as the guest country of honor. A total of 14 Spanish galleries participated in the special exhibition "New Contemporary Art from Spain: A Proposal". In relation, a Spanish film festival, which introduced five independent Spanish films and other various academic programs were presented to the visitors. Another special exhibition, "Something Mr. C Can't Have," introduced Korean up-and-coming young artists. This performed as a platform that brought the art market and the field closer, providing collectors and art lovers at home and abroad access to more professional and dynamic experiences.
2006
The size of KIAF increased by 120 percent in 2006. The special exhibition “Paris-Seoul” was curated to celebrate the 120th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations. A series of related forums were organized, which proved that KIAF was ready to make a leap into the global market beyond the Asian and U.S. markets.
2005
More than twenty influential European galleries, including seven German galleries, participated in KIAF in 2005, celebrating the year of art exchanges between Korea and Germany. The “German Contemporary Art” special exhibition centered on Ari de Knecht's collection and the “Korea-German Digital Media Art” special exhibition by Korean and German artists acted as a platform to further understand European contemporary art.
2004
In 2004, two special exhibitions "Continental Japanese Painting" and "Digital Art Limited" were curated to illustrate the trends and issues of contemporary art. The "Continental Japanese Painting" exhibition focused on paintings as a medium, examining various aspects of contemporary Japanese paintings. The “Digital Art Limited” exhibition provided an opportunity for viewers to look at the current status of the digital media art scene and introduced various trends in media art such as single-channel video, introductions, and interactive art.
2003
In 2003, KIAF moved its venue to COEX in Seoul, which continued to the present day. As an extension of the first year's special exhibition "Light of the East," the "Light of the East II" was presented, this time focusing on the sculptural artworks by contemporary artists from three countries: Republic of Korea, China, and Japan. Another special exhibition, "Today's Chinese Painting" was presented, featuring artworks that revealed challenges and experiments by contemporary Chinese artists who opposed the rules of the Chinese power system and art education. Furthermore, various academic seminar programs were introduced as a way to retain academic intensity and vigor.
2002
To expand the base of Korean art and to enhance its international competitiveness, the Korea International Art Fair (hereafter referred to as KIAF) first opened at BEXCO, Busan in 2002. It was the first and the largest international art fair held in Korea, designed to represent Korean art and to lead its market, as well as to serve as an international art fair that discovers the value of contemporary art and examines the flow of the art market. As a special exhibition of the first year, "Light of the East" was curated, presenting Korean, Chinese, and Japanese contemporary artists. This exhibition was designed to discover and present hope in human history by pursuing a new utopia in the experiment of mutual assistance and cooperation in Northeast Asia beyond simply the gathering of the three countries.
