Seoul art fair opens featuring 1,200 artists

SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's largest art fair opened Tuesday for a
six-day run, featuring more than 5,500 works by 1,200 artists across the nation,
the event's Web site said.
The annual Seoul Open Art Fair (www.soaf.co.kr), marking its fourth opening this
year, raised 4.2 billion won (US$3.19 million) last year, drawing hundreds of art
collectors and gallery owners from home and abroad.
Up to 70 commercial art museums are participating in this year's event, featuring
sculptures, photographs, prints and paintings priced from as low as 1 million won
to tens of millions of won, organizers said. The event is being held at the COEX
Convention Center in Samseongdong, southern Seoul.
"This year's event will provide chances for collectors to purchase artworks they
have been hesitating to buy at much more affordable prices," said Lee Suk-young,
chairman of the event.
Works of veteran Korean artists including Oh Ji-ho, Jeon Hyuck-lim, Kim Jong-hak,
Lee Dae-won and Choi Young-lim are on display in the "Korean Artists: Best of
Best" section. Those by U.S. artists Robert Indiana, Frank Stella and Donald Judd
are also up for purchase.
A special "Celebrity Art Project" features paintings and collages by Korean
celebrities including actresses Shim Eun-ha and Kim Hae-soo, and singer Cho
Young-nam.
Tickets to the event are on sale for 7,000 won.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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