Kwon Yeo-Jung  

Old Seoul Railway Station turned into art market featuring 1718 works by 777 artists

From August 1st to 26th, Asian Students and Young Artists Art Festival (ASYAAF) was held at 'Culture Station Seoul 284'. This event was the 5th exhibition of ASYAAF after it started its annual festivals. For this 5th exhibition, 3,407 artists submitted their works for selection and the competition rate was 5 to 1, marking this year the most competitive ever. All the artworks were selected by a panel of professors, critics and gallery directors. The art festival was divided into 2 terms. The first exhibition was held from August 1st to August 2nd and the second exhibition was held from August 14th to August 26th. The spectators could buy the artworks as well as view paintings. Approximately 15,000 visitors came to see the first part of exhibition and 258 works were sold, 28.1% of them.

Young artists from KMU

Among the 777 artists whose artworks were selected, there were 24 artists from Kookmin University.
Kookmin Review had a chance to interview two artists from KMU.

"I've got a strong will to put more effort into my work." Artist Kim Dong-Eun, student of College of Art at Kookmin University talks about her paintings, ASYAAF, and her plans.
"I want to have an exhibition outside the university before graduation. So I submitted my artworks as a challenge. I thought ASYAAF was a great opportunity to show my works to the public and take a step forward as an artist," said Kim Dong-Eun who wholeheartedly responded to the interview. Kim participated in ASYAAF for the first time this year but she has had a solo exhibition at Kookmin art gallery in KMU. Her first exhibition, 'The Moon Visible At Day (Nat Dal In Korean)' dealt with 'nature' like her artworks at ASYAAF. She was moved by comment made by one of the visitors who saw her solo exhibition.

"What I realized after reading the comment was that I wanted to communicate with many people through my work. I had a desire for exhibition so I applied for ASYAAF."
She sent two paintings to the exhibition, 'Nature' and 'Dividing'. She plans to continue her work with the theme of nature as she likes to explore the question of whether the real nature exists. Kim said that people tries to fit others' view and struggle to meet others' expectations without noticing their own nature. So she wanted to express the question whether she existed as her own and what her nature is.
Her work 'Dividing' consists of pieces, indicating India and her room. She mixed two places where she was free from other people's view. And she drew her confusion. Because, she was not certain that she existed as herself even when she was in those places at that moment.
"At first, I felt great to have a big exhibition, ASYAAF. But after visiting the exhibition, I've got a strong will to put more effort into my work."
She has a pride in her artworks. At the same time, she tries to improve her works.
"I want to draw paintings that many people can sympathize with. Therefore I will put more effort," Kim said.

"6 artworks were completely sold out. I couldn't expect it."Artist Kim Gun-Joo, put his own style in prints and 6 works were sold out

Artist Kim Gun-Joo, graduate student in Kookmin University illustration department, sold 6 silk-screen prints at ASYAAF. For his submitted artworks, he could sell 3 times because his artworks were prints, not paintings. His three artworks were titled 'Face1','Face2, and 'Start'.
Kim handed in his works to ASYAAF for the first time this year and he couldn't imagine that as many as 6 artworks could be sold. "Artists worry if their artworks would be sold or not. But 6 of his artworks were sold continuously over 4 days as soon as the exhibition opened. "

For his work 'Start' he depicted the image of people who are on the verge of start.
"Some made their mind to get started, some are thinking about how to start and others are going somewhere to start." explains Kim.
"A retiree purchased this print with his severance pay. He is in his mid 30's. The man bought this artwork for when he moves into a new job. It was refreshing to see spectators purchased works with their personal story."

However this is not the first time Kim’s works have gained popularity. Last year, he sold many works at 'Hong Dae Free Market.' In addition, he exhibited his work at 'TOMS' Hong Dae store from August 15th to August 24th. He also participated in the event held at 'TOMS' Hong Dae store as an artist on August 18th. He exhibited artwork there showing the brand's message 'One for One'. And the work was made of pieces expressing 'sharing.'

He ended the interview by adding his comment about ASYAAF. "I hope there are more art fairs like ASYAAF. I gain confidence when seeing people like my works and I also think I should produce better artworks and work hard," he said.

yjkwon1993@kookmin.ac.kr