Insa-dong, one of the most popular art neighborhoods in Seoul, is the traditional gallery and antique district.

It has long been considered the center of Korea's art world and the area in fact is home to about 60 art spaces including Gallery Seon, Kwanhoon Gallery and Dukwon Gallery.

However, in recent years, a growing number of restaurants and cafes has relatively obscured Insa-dong's art-center status and since the mid-1990s, some galleries have moved out of the area and relocated in the posh southern Seoul area.

In sum, the fine arts are losing ground in Insa-dong. In order to counter the phenomenon, action has been taken.

The second annual Insa Art Festival will be held from July 7 to 18 in a bid to reinstate the neighborhood as the center of art while of course, promoting Korean art.

The festival is themed on a single subject, and this year the works exhibited will feature a wide range of artworks from beautiful paintings to strange and mysterious art pieces that address the theme "Between Beauty and the Grotesque."

The organizing committee said the theme was chosen to reflect a rapidly growing interest in what is ugly and grotesque among young artists in their 20s and 30s.

It added that the desire to express what is ugly is the key word in describing today's social and cultural phenomena.

A total of 52 artists, including eight artists in their 20s, twenty in their 30s, nineteen in their 40s and five in their 50s, will showcase their works at 17 different galleries during the festival.

One thing to notice is that instead of each work being exhibited independently by each gallery, only those approved by the commissioner in charge of the event will be on display.

This comes as the participating galleries -- including Gallery Artside, Sun Gallery, Baik Song Gallery, Dong San Bang Gallery, and Hakgojae Gallery -- have agreed to name a commissioner so that the festival can better reflect a unified theme throughout the exhibition.

rofessor Yoon Jin-seop at Honam University, who has been designated the festival commissioner, said only those art galleries passing certain qualifications can take part in this year's festival, and that the artworks have been selected based on how well they represent the festival's main theme.

During the festival, visitors can view the artworks within the world of what is beautiful and ugly by visiting the participating art galleries while taking in the uniquely Korean culture of Insa-dong, strolling around the area or sipping traditional Korean tea at teahouses.

During the opening ceremony on July 7, street performances will also be staged.

The hosting galleries include Sun Gallery, Rho Gallery, Namgyeong Gallery, Dong San Bang Gallery, Moin Gallery, Baik Song Gallery, Art Side, Gallery Woolim, Yun Gallery, Insa Gallery and Hakgojae Gallery.

To get there, get off at Anguk Station, Subway Line No. 3 exit 6, and follow the signs for Insa-dong. For more information, call (02) 737-2110.

By Han Aran
Korea.net Staff Writer
SOURCE : Korea.net