Artemin Gallery

1. Is there one particular artist or artwork in your presentation at Kiaf SEOUL 2025 that you’d especially like to highlight?

Yes, we are especially excited to highlight Cheng Nung-Hsuan, a Taiwanese painter whose work will be prominently featured in our presentation. Cheng’s recent paintings are a compelling fusion of classical Western composition and the fluidity of Eastern linework. His layered canvases present a dynamic interplay between geometry and figuration, abstraction and narrative—often evoking the theatricality of stage sets and the philosophical question of what painting can still become today.

In his new series, Cheng embraces ambiguity and transformation, building up his paintings through a process of intuitive layering rather than rigid pre-planning. Figures appear and dissolve, color fields clash and cohere, and the canvas becomes a living space for visual tension. His works resonate deeply with Artemin Gallery’s curatorial vision, which seeks out artists who push beyond stylistic boundaries while maintaining a strong dialogue with painting’s historical legacies.

Nung-Hsuan Cheng, Waving the Flag no.2, Oil on canvas, 162 x 130 cm, 2024

Nung-Hsuan Cheng, Turning Crease no.3, Oil on canvas, 91 x 72.5 cm, 2024

2. Could you briefly share the curatorial direction or philosophy that guides your gallery?

At Artemin Gallery, our curatorial direction centers on exploring the intersection of abstraction and figuration, and how contemporary artists engage with both historical painting traditions and the evolving languages of visual expression. We are especially drawn to works that embody material sensitivity, formal experimentation, and a sense of quiet intensity.

As a gallery based in Taipei with international collaborations, we also pay close attention to how Eastern and Western visual cultures converge, conflict, or resonate within each artist’s practice. Ultimately, we believe that good art lives in the balance between clarity and ambiguity, where the viewer is invited to stay, to feel, and to reflect.

3.  What are you hoping to gain or experience through your participation in Kiaf for the first time?

As this is our first time participating in KIAF, we are looking forward to connecting with a broader network of collectors, curators, foundations, and institutions. South Korea has long been an important reference point for contemporary art in Asia, and we hope to engage more deeply with its art ecosystem through meaningful face-to-face conversations.

We see KIAF as a valuable opportunity not just to present our artists to a new audience, but also to better understand the rhythm, taste, and structure of the South Korean art market. We’re especially interested in building long-term relationships and discovering potential collaborations that go beyond the fair itself.