Art Gwangju 2010

The inaugural Art Gwangju 2010 (September 1 – September 5 at the KimDaeJung Convention Center) will be a new aspect of an international art fair. It will feature a selection of exciting international contemporary art and design and their galleries for the first time in a fair capacity. Art Gwangju will be a curated art fair with selected commissioners shaping the vision and organization of Art Gwangju. Its exhibition space will be driven by the organization and direction of artists and their art works, creating an event that takes into account both the art market and the public space in one location.

The following art critics, curators, designers and dealers were invaluable for their contribution to Art Gwangju: Alessandro Mendini (editor, Domus Magazine), Carol Yinghua Lu (contributing editor for Frieze); Maurizio Bortolotti (Professor, NABA Milan); Johnnie Walker (Director of A.R.T The Dog House); Young-e Chang (former Director of T Art Center, Beijing); and Yangsoo Kim (Inter Art Channel, Seoul).

In keeping with the vision of Art Gwangju, the participating galleries have also sought to present solo or two-artist exhibitions. Solo exhibitions include Santiago Sierra by Lisson Gallery (London) and Yoshitomo Nara by Tomio Koyama Gallery (Tokyo and Kyoto). Two-artist exhibitions include Michelangelo Pistoletto and Daniel Buren by Galleria Continua (San Gemignano, Beijing, and Le Moulin) and Liu Xiadong and Sun Yuan & Peng Yu by Tang Gallery (Beijing). Other notable exhibitions include Huh Daljae by Park Ryusook Gallery (Seoul); Jheon Soochun by Oroom Gallery (Seoul); P. S. Jalaja by MBM Gallery (Mumbai). We are also pleased to include Beijing Commune (Beijing), Space Station (Beijing), Prometeo Gallery (Milan), The Columns (Seoul) as well as all the participating galleries of Art Gwanju.

The exhibition, Emerging Asian Artists, highlights the contribution of the top emerging Asian contemporary artists who have contributed to bringing Asia to the forefront of the international art world. The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue of the top 100 Asian artists under the age of 40, published by Silvana Editoriale of Italy. In addition the exhibition, Platform Project, will be a showcase of works by the leading masters of contemporary art and design. It will present a unique perspective of how the contemporary art market exists today as well as an important platform where the aesthetics of the East and West are juxtaposed. The participating artists in the Platform Project are Michelangelo Pistoletto, Ai Weiwei, Shilpa Gupta, Yayoi Kusama, Xiadong Liu, Sun Yuan & Peng Yu, Giuseppe Stampone, amongst others. The participating designers are Ron Arad, Alessandro Mendini, Gaetano Pesce, Zaha Hadid, Karim Rasid, Fabio Novembre and Byung-hoon Choi.

The Art Gwangju Talk Program is a series of conversations and lectures featuring renowned artists, collectors, critics, dealers and curators. Michelangelo Pistoletto presents "Mirror Sea", a 6-person panel discussion. The program also presents lectures by or discussions with Mera and Donald Rubell (leading contemporary art collectors), Uli Sigg (collector known for promoting Chinese contemporary art to the world stage), dealer Tomio Koyama and Tatehata Akira (Director of the National Museum of Art, Osaka), the artist Michelangelo Pistoletto, Maurizio Bortolotti (Italian curator), Alessandra Sandrolini, Emanuela Baldi and Yongwoo Lee.

EAA (Emerging Asian Artists): Liu Ding, Fang Lu, Yan Xing, Hong Shaopei, Chen Wei, Sun Xun, Zhou Yilun (China), Charwei Tsai, Chien Chung Liao (Taiwan), Riyas Komu, P S Jalaja, Thukral Targa (India), Farida Batool, Unum Babar (Pakistan), Diana Al Hadid (Syria), Akira Mayanaga, Kei Takemura, Koizumi Meiro, Koki Tanaka (Japan), Son Junghee (Korea), Tromarama (Febie Babyrose, Herbert Hans, Ruddy Hatumena, Indonesia)

Platform Project: Ai Weiwei, Shilpa Gupta, Liu Xiadong, Giuseppe Stampone, Kusama Yayoi, Sun Yuan & Peng Yu, Alessandro Mendini, Ron Arad, Gaetano Pesce, Zaha Hadid, Karim Rashid, Byung hoon Choi, Fabio Novembre