Hannam-dong, rich in fashion and art, has emerged as a cultural center.

A new large space for the new Gallery Foundry Seoul and the Seoul branch of the world-famous Pace Gallery, as well as a new flagship store for Italian luxury fashion brand Gucci, have opened in Hannam-dong, central Seoul. In recent weeks, it has solidified its position as one of the cultural centers of Seoul, especially art and fashion.

Foundry Soul, which officially opens on Friday, announced its first exhibition on Tuesday. A solo exhibition by Berlin-based young abstract painter Henning Strasburger and an exhibition by KANGHYUK, a fashion design duo consisting of Choi Kang-hyuk and Choi Kang-hyuk. Son Sann Luck.

According to exhibition curator Park Se-jin, Strassberger creates abstract paintings in complex steps, such as projecting digital drawings onto a canvas and hand-drawing the projected images. He also uses a color scheme inspired by the industrial CMYK color spectrum used in printing technology. “In these ways, he explores the possibilities of painting in the age of digital imaging,” Park said.

The gallery is an art dealership newly established by TK Corporation, an industrial pipe fitting maker based in Busan, and the building where Gucci opened its second flagship store in South Korea on May 28, Gucci Gaok. I own it. Although it is a building, it is almost invisible from the street because it is on the second basement floor.

Gucci Gaok, the new flagship store of Italian luxury brand Gucci, is located in the main street building of Itaewon, owned by TK Corporation, based in Busan. On the basement floor of the building is TK’s new gallery business, Foundry Soul. [GUCCI KOREA]

Still, the building is very artistic as Gucci asked Korean artist Park Sunmo, who starred in the Oscar-winning movie Parasite (2019), to decorate the façade. The work depicting the pine forest is made of a layer of stainless steel mesh, and you can see different scenery depending on the light, the angle of the viewer, and the distance.

In South Korea, non-art companies rarely set up subsidiaries of art dealers, but it is common for such companies to set up museums as part of their art sponsorship. Chloe Yun, managing director of the new gallery and daughter of TK CEO Yun Sung-deuk, said: They work in a good environment and sell their work at a reasonable price. That’s why I decided to set up a gallery instead of a museum. ”

Meanwhile, Pace Gallery held a solo exhibition by renowned American artist Sam Gilliam on May 27 in a new space on the second and third floors of the Le Beige Building near the Leeum Samsung Museum of Art in Hannam-dong. When the exhibition ends on July 10, we will move to a paced space in the H Queen building in Hong Kong. This suggests a change in the situation of the Korean art market, which was previously thought to be less important than Hong Kong.

Sam Gilliam’s “Spin and Splash” (20210 is hanging in Pace Soul as part of his solo exhibition. [PACE SEOUL]

This exhibition presents nine new works of so-called “bevel abstract painting” that Gilliam has been continuously developing since the 1960s. Inspired by Abstract Expressionism and American jazz music in the mid-20th century, he created paintings with thick textures, quiet luster, and delicately changing colors and tones. “Pace Soul gallery manager Lee Ruri said.

“Gilliam’s approach to abstract expression is profound and energetic, often after folding, dipping, or dyeing the canvas, then from pure pigments, sawdust, tin shots, or other studio floors. Apply thick paint mixed with materials such as debris. “Pace wrote on its website. “Using rakes, steel brushes, and other tools, Gilliam exposes a layer of fire-like glowing color that emerges from the ash.”

The linen sliding screens installed in front of some windows and glass doors in the new space are in harmony with the painting. “We asked Cho Minsuk of Mass Studies, the architect who designed the entire building, to renovate the interior of the floor in the new space and include some traditional Korean elements,” explains Rhee. To do.

This photo by Kim Sante shows a new space at Pace Seoul Gallery in Itaewon, central Seoul. [PACE SEOUL]

Meanwhile, Hannam-dong, which includes the cityscape called Itaewon, has steadily grown into a major art zone in Seoul since the opening of the Leeum Samsung Museum of Art in 2004.

Today, the area is home to Hyundai Card’s music library and art center storage. GanaArt Sounds and GanaArt Nine One are branches of GanaArt, one of the largest galleries in Korea. Alternative Art Space Amado. Gallery Button, considered one of the strongest young galleries. Musical theater Blue Square art exhibition space.

Also, the 28-year-old gallery Galerie BHAK and the young art space This Weekend Room, located between the gallery and the collective, moved from Cheongdam-dong in Gangnam to Hannam-dong at the end of last year, earlier this year.

There are also flagship stores of fashion brands such as KUHO, Comme des Garcons and Kolon’s Series Corner, which hold small art shows from time to time.

The Leeum Samsung Museum of Art, which has been virtually dormant since 2017, will reopen later this year, in addition to Hannam-dong’s vitality, when ongoing renovations have been completed, according to representatives. Lee Jae-yong, chairman of the Samsung Group, was arrested for bribes and other charges in a scandal that led to the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, and was temporarily closed due to a pandemic last year. Therefore, Lee Jae-yong refrained from a special exhibition.

According to art officials, Hannam-dong is located between two important art zones north and south of the Han River, Samcheong-dong and Cheongdam-dong, so it is easy to attract collectors from both areas. In addition, the area is home to fashion shops, design shops, restaurants and cafes that appeal to the so-called MZ generation, or those born in the early 1980s and mid-1990s who have emerged as new and important players in the art market. ..

MOONSO-YOUNG [symoon@joongang.co.kr]