Every so often, a rare gem is unearthed. In the ever-elusive world of art, design and architecture, some will say there’s nothing quite like the Miami Art Basel, the Venice Biennale or the Salone del Mobile in Milan. Yet a new entry from Asia is swiftly running up that hill—in the vein of Frieze Seoul.
Uniquely placed to run alongside Kiaf Seoul—one of South Korea’s already prevalent and leading art fairs—the international art fair has slowly been gaining traction from art enthusiasts and respectable industry folk from all over the globe, since its foray in 2022. But we’re hardly surprised, considering the sheer cultural impact of its music and entertainment industry, with some of its most famous celebrities playing a colossal role in drawing the public eye.
Case in point? K-pop idols G-Dragon and RM of BTS, who are often associated with their interest in the art world—both highly-regarded as art collectors themselves. G-Dragon himself, has often been seen at events surrounding Frieze Seoul since its first iteration in 2022, like his continued appearance at the Chanel Culture Fund. By way of upping the ante, 2024’s edition of the fair sees him link up with Pharrell Williams’s digital-first auction platform Joopiter for an exciting auction titled ‘Nothing but a ‘G’ Thang: The Art and Archive of G-Dragon’. Where over 50 contemporary art pieces and fashion memorabilia out of the K-pop idol and style icon’s personal collection will not only be up for grabs, but will also be put on display at an established private museum near the historic site of Gyeongbokgung Palace. To celebrate its opening, a buzzy soirée was also held, and the ‘Paradise Art Night’ event called upon the star power of South Korea’s biggest industry names like YoonA, Jung Hoyeon, Lee Jin-wook, Ha Ji-won, Rowoon and many more.
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In the same spirit, a bevy of celebrity names like actors Park Seo-joon and Lee Chung-ah have also been spotted traipsing through the halls of the numerous art galleries which are showing a plethora of exhibitions from renowned Korean and international artists this year. From South Korea alone, we’re already talking generational artist legends; from fabric architect Do Ho Suh’s utopian fantasy that is ‘Do Ho Suh: Speculations’, the highly-regarded works of mixed media household name Nam June Paik or the stunning ‘Moon Jar’ pieces by ceramic master Young Sook Park.
Also turning up the heat at Frieze Seoul are a roster of luxury houses that have decided to chime in with their own artist collaborations or fringe pop-ups. At the launch of MCM’s first ‘MCM Wearable Casa’ exhibition outside of the Salone del Mobile in Milan—a joint move with renowned Italian design studio Atelier Biagetti—the likes of Soyeon of (G)I-DLE, Kim Hye-yoon of Lovely Runner fame and Thai actor-singer Mew were all in attendance. Meanwhile, Chaumet’s collaborative venture with South Korean object artist Heechan Kim welcomed house ambassador Song Hye-kyo, Lee Soo-hyuk and Joshua of Seventeen to the dedicated lounge, whilst Saint Laurent invited Rosé and Cha Eun-woo to visit the ‘Portrait of a Collection: Selected Works from the Pinault Collection’ exhibit at Songeun.
Below, a look at all the celebrities who made time for a pitstop at Frieze Seoul 2024.
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Pharrell and G-Dragon at the opening of the 'Nothing But a ‘G’ Thang: The Art & Archive of G-Dragon' exhibition
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YoonA at the 'Paradise Art Night' Frieze Seoul event
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YoGhurt at the 'MCM Wearable Casa’ exhibition
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Hoyeon at the 'Paradise Art Night' Frieze Seoul event
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Park Seo-joon at the 'Paradise Art Night' Frieze Seoul event
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Nana at the Chaumet Frieze Seoul Lounge
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Jeon Somi at the 'Paradise Art Night' Frieze Seoul event
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Kim Hye-yoon at the 'MCM Wearable Casa’ exhibition
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Song Hye-kyo at the Chaumet Frieze Seoul Lounge
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Rowoon at the 'Paradise Art Night' Frieze Seoul event
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Jeon Soyeon of (G)I-DLE at the 'MCM Wearable Casa’ exhibition
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Rosé at the ‘Portrait of a Collection: Selected Works from the Pinault Collection’
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Joshua of Seventeen at the Chaumet Frieze Seoul Lounge
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Lee Min-ho at the 'Paradise Art Night' Frieze Seoul event
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Moon Sujin at the opening of the 'Nothing But a ‘G’ Thang: The Art & Archive of G-Dragon' exhibition
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Cha Eun-woo at the ‘Portrait of a Collection: Selected Works from the Pinault Collection’
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Lee Soo-hyuk at the 'Paradise Art Night' Frieze Seoul event
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Lee Chung-ah at the ‘Portrait of a Collection: Selected Works from the Pinault Collection’
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Jung Il-woo at the 'Paradise Art Night' Frieze Seoul event
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Younghoon of The Boyz at the 'MCM Wearable Casa’ exhibition
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Lee Soo-hyuk at the Chaumet Frieze Seoul Lounge
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Lee Byung-hun, Lee Min-jung and Lee Jin-wook at the 'Paradise Art Night' Frieze Seoul event
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Mew at the 'MCM Wearable Casa’ exhibition
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Ha Ji-won at the 'Paradise Art Night' Frieze Seoul event
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Go Kyung-po at the opening of the 'Nothing But a ‘G’ Thang: The Art & Archive of G-Dragon' exhibition
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Baby Monster at the Chaumet Frieze Seoul Lounge
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Park Seo-joon at Josh Sperling's 'Wonder' exhibition
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Bae Doona at the 'Paradise Art Night' Frieze Seoul event
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Nana Youngrong Kim at the opening of the 'Nothing But a ‘G’ Thang: The Art & Archive of G-Dragon' exhibition
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Song Joong-ki at the opening of the 'Nothing But a ‘G’ Thang: The Art & Archive of G-Dragon' exhibition
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Simon Dominic and Gray at the 'Paradise Art Night' Frieze Seoul event
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Pharrell and Nigo at the opening of the 'Nothing But a ‘G’ Thang: The Art & Archive of G-Dragon' exhibition
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Lee Hee-joon, Ahn Sohee and Park Sung-hoon at the 'Paradise Art Night' Frieze Seoul event
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Eric Nam at the 'Paradise Art Night' Frieze Seoul event
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Lee Joo-been at the Chaumet Frieze Seoul Lounge
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