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Meet the newcomers: Seoul’s P21 champions a fresh generation of Korean artists
In our new series highlighting first-time Art Basel exhibitors, discover the story behind this cutting-edge gallery
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Among the abundance of Korean barbecue restaurants, chic indie boutiques, and upscale jumaks that fill Seoul’s sweeping Itaewon district lie two ultramodern glass cubes, housing Korea’s P21 gallery. Founded in 2017 by Soo Choi, the distinctive space is devoted to developing a roster of mid-career Korean artists and fresh emerging talents, including Jeong Hwa Choi and Byungchan Lee. The gallery spans two separate facades – P1 and P2 – offering intriguing possibilities for site-specific presentations.
Soo explains that the structure was unintentional, as she had initially sought to create an adaptable gallery model rather than a brick-and-mortar space. ‘The artists enjoy the challenge of coming up with a focused presentation in a small space, and we’ve had a lot of fun developing shows together,’ she says. ’My goal is to continue encouraging artists to generate new ideas and a new body of work for each show.’
She is no stranger to the Korean art scene. Before founding P21, she worked for several years alongside her mother, Park Ryu Sook, who has been running her eponymous gallery since 1983.‘My mother was among the first Korean galleries to join Art Basel that is still in operation today,’ she says. ‘I’ve participated at Art Basel Hong Kong under her gallery before, so it’s very exciting and humbling to come back this year with my own.’
Prior to opening her own space, Soo intended to run P21 as a sub-brand of her mother’s gallery. It soon expanded into an independent entity, with an inaugural exhibition by Jeong Hwa Choi. When asked about the nature of operating in Korea, the gallerist identifies the active art scene in Seoul as an advantage, but notes that many talented young artists do not have a platform in the commercial sector, despite being highly active in non-profit art spaces and institutions. ‘There is a lack of understanding about the role of an art gallery in Korea,’ she says. ‘I wish to nurture healthy relationships with artists over the long term to increase their commercial value.’
Top image: Outside view of P21 Gallery, with a work by Hyungkoo Lee. Courtesy of P21, Seoul.