To mark its 80th anniversary, the Department of Fine Arts at Kookmin University’s College of Arts (President Jeong Seung Ryul) will host a commemorative art fair titled *Seeing Eighty Springs* at the Kookmin University Art Hall from Monday, October 12, through Thursday, October 15.
 
This event has been designed as an open art festival where artists and visitors can interact directly and enjoy the works together, going beyond a simple alumni exhibition focused solely on viewing. Approximately 120 artists—including domestic and international alumni from the Department of Fine Arts at Kookmin University, as well as former and current faculty members—will participate to showcase creative achievements that bridge generations.
 
In particular, this art fair aims to create a virtuous cycle where the fruits of artistic creation lead back to nurturing future generations, going beyond mere exhibition and sales. While proceeds from artwork sales will support the ongoing creative activities of alumni artists, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to scholarship and educational funds to support the university’s development and the education of future students. This structure ensures that the artistic achievements created together by teachers, students, and alumni in turn help foster the growth of the next generation of artists.
 
The exhibited works comprise a diverse array of paintings, sculptures, and videos—pieces that can be easily enjoyed and collected even in everyday spaces. Notably, to allow not only art enthusiasts but also general visitors to take the plunge into collecting their first artwork without hesitation, some of the pieces will be offered at reasonable prices of 1 million won or less. In addition, features such as “Professors’ Bookshelves”—where visitors can browse books from the personal collections of retired and current faculty members, as well as rare art books—and “kmu Market,” which sells art goods reflecting the fresh sensibilities of current students created in conjunction with practical art classes, will be open throughout the event. Through these initiatives, the university aims to create a space where university members—including alumni artists, faculty, current students, and visitors—and the local community can come together.
 
Professor Kim Tae Jin, Head of the Department of Fine Arts and a professor in the Painting Department at Kookmin University, who is participating in this art fair, stated, “We aimed to create a living art ecosystem where creation and appreciation continue, and the fruits of that labor are returned to the foundation of learning, rather than simply holding a one-time exhibition to commemorate the past.” “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the participating artists who have willingly shared the fruits of their labor—embodying the sweat and time of alumni artists—with their alma mater, and I hope that visitors will also join this meaningful virtuous cycle by collecting the works and offering their support,” he added.
 
The exhibition begins with a VIP preview opening and pre-sale at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 12, and runs through Thursday, October 15. Viewing hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and admission is free. Further details can be found on the official Instagram account and other channels.