As part of our VIP program, Kiaf has arranged a special time to visit the studios of leading artists in the Korean art scene. This visit offers a chance to engage in discussions with the artists about their artworks and create a more profound appreciation of an artist firsthand, surrounded by their creative energy. The studio visits in Paju will take place sequentially in the spaces of Mi-Ryung Ban, Ran Hwang, Young-Wook Choi, Yoon-Shin Kim, Chung hyun. This experience aims to enhance understanding of their artworks and gain artistic inspiration.

※ RSVP for this program through the Kiaf VIP App.

※ Applications are on a first-come, first-served basis, and the program may close early.

[Participating Artists]

Barn Mi-Ryung | @miryung_barn 

© Courtesy of the artist

Barn Mi-Ryung (b. 1965-) creates paintings that bridge past and present, space and light, and the boundaries between the real and the surreal. Her pastel-colored, dreamlike scenes spark the imagination, evoking a new world that appears to exist just beyond reality. By layering paint with rollers, she generates a sense of depthless space that draws viewers in. Through her work, Ban poses the questions, “Who am I and where am I?” inviting viewers to reflect on their inner lives.

Hwang Ran | @ranhwangstudio

© Courtesy of the artist

Hwang Ran, renowned for using buttons, pins, and beads to create modern Korean imagery, emphasizes the universality and everydayness of materials in her early work. Deeply influenced by her memories of the 9/11 attacks, she delved into themes of contemplation and reflection within society. By transforming everyday materials into delicate art, Hwang’s works are now featured in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, and Art Bank of the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Seoul.

Choi Young Wook | WEBSITE

© Courtesy of the artist

Choi Young Wook’s (b. 1964-) karma – the painting of the moon jar, a porcelain vessel during the late Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) – is the result of repeated application of a specially prepared glaze and colors to the canvas and grinding it with sandpaper. A fine crack on the moon jar’s surface, called “Bing-ryul,” shows the metaphor for the many connections in life, the cycles of life’s ups and downs, and the relationships of people woven like threads. His works are included in numerous public and private collections, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and BTS RM.

Kim Yun Shin | @kimyunshin_art

© Courtesy of the artist and Kukje Gallery, Photo by Chunho An.

Kim Yun Shin (b. 1935-), a first-generation Korean female sculptor, creates a unique visual language that fully embraces and fuses with nature. After studying in France, Kim taught at various universities for about a decade before moving to Argentina in 1984. Her work explores the relationship between humans and nature, embodying a timeless and universal quality. She captures the distinctive energy and vitality of South American nature and culture in her pieces created after settling in Argentina. Remarkably, at nearly ninety years old, Kim remains an active artist and was recently invited to participate in the leading exhibition of the Venice Biennale, reaffirming her prominence on global change.

Chung Hyun | @chunghyun56

© Courtesy of the artist

Cung Hyun (b. 1956), who holds a unique position in contemporary Korean sculpture, focuses on the inherent existence of materials by intervening in them as minimally as possible. He primarily uses discarded materials that have already fulfilled their purpose, such as old railway ties, metal scraps, and oil residues—objects marked by time and experience. In an interview discussing his drawings, the artist explained, “I merely made a scratch; nature and time did the drawing,” which aptly encapsulates his artistic philosophy. Cung Hyun studied sculpture at Hongik University and its graduate school before continuing his education at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1986. Since returning to Korea, he has consistently engaged in numerous exhibitions both domestically and internationally.