People stand around "Willing To Be Vulnerable ― Metalized Balloon," created by Korean artist Lee Bul, at the Encounters sector of the seventh edition of Art Basel in Hong Kong, March 27. AP-Yonhap



By Kwon Mee-yoo



Ten galleries from Korea promoted Korean artists to leading collectors in Hong Kong last week, reflecting the artists' heightened status on the international art scene.



Art Basel in Hong Kong, the largest art fair in Asia, wrapped up its seventh edition at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Sunday. More than 88,000 visitors viewed the world-class artworks during the five-day event.



Among the 242 participating galleries from 36 countries, the Korean galleries presented a variety of works from contemporary artists to internationally renowned artists.



Hakgojae Gallery solely exhibited Korean artists, especially those of Minjung Art, a pro-democracy and populist art movement in Korea during the 1980s. Headlined by feminist artist Yun Suk-nam's "Kim Man-duk's heart is the tears and the love," the gallery introduced other Minjung Movement artists Kang Yo-bae, Shin Hak-chul and Noh Soon-taek.



Kukje Gallery's booth featured top Korean dansaekhwa artists Lee U-fan, Park Seo-bo, Ha Chong-hyun and Yoo Young-kuk's iconic mountain paintings.





Artist Lee Bul stands in front of her work "Willing To Be Vulnerable ― Metalized Balloon" on view at the Encounters sector of the seventh edition of Art Basel in Hong Kong last Thursday. Yonhap

Korean artist Lee Bul was invited to the Encounters sector, which featured a large installation and sculptural works. Lee presented "Willing to Be Vulnerable ― Metalized Balloon" (2015-16), paying homage to the endless efforts of humans and technology with a reference to the Hindenburg disaster in 1937.



Top international galleries such as David Zwirner, Galerie Perrotin, Gagosian and Lehmann Maupin focused on introducing household names including Picasso, Andy Warhol and Egon Schiele.



Experts said Korean galleries lacked characteristics as they were caught between introducing Korean art and making sales with well-known Western artists to cover high booth fees and transport expenses.



Galleries Association of Korea President Choi Woong-chol said galleries and art fairs should push for changes in bridging artworks and collectors.



"Galleries and art fairs should reflect the change in customers' preferences as well as the art market environment more flexibly," Choi said.



Master modern Korean artist Kim Whan-ki's figurative painting "Peony, Old Tree and Jar" sold for around 500 million won ($HK3.5 million) at the Seoul Auction's 28th Hong Kong sale at SA+ in Hong Kong, Friday.



However, Lee U-fan's "With Winds," which graced the cover of the auction catalogue, did not sell and another Lee U-fan work "Dialogue" sold for about 400 million won. Paik Nam-june's 2004 video sculpture "Robot Circus― Paint" also failed to find a new owner.





"Peony, Old Tree and Jar" by Kim Whan-ki was sold for around 500 million won at the Seoul Auction's 28th Hong Kong sale at SA+ in Hong Kong, Friday. Courtesy of Seoul Auction