12th Gyeongnam International Art Fair Opens on September 11 in Changwon – a Leading Industrial City

South Korea, 10th Sep 2025 – The 12th Gyeongnam International Art Fair (GIAF) is scheduled to take place at the Changwon Convention Center (CECO) from the 11th to the 14th of this month. This year’s fair, the largest art market in Gyeongnam, will feature 102 booths from 51 galleries representing nine different countries, including Germany, Russia, the United States, Ecuador, Italy, Japan, China, France, and Korea. The event will showcase a diverse range of artworks, including paintings, sculptures, video art, installation art, prints, and photography.

The theme for this year’s fair is “OWN THE MOMENT: Collect, Transform, Experience,” which aims to capture fleeting artistic moments and extend the art experience through a connection with the audience. The organizers explain that “Collect” is the cultural act of accumulating memories, emotions, time, and narratives. The accumulated art is then reinterpreted within the viewer, leading to “Transform,” and this entire process culminates in the “Experience.”

Highlights of the Fair

The GIAF will feature various special and planned exhibitions that reinterpret Gyeongnam’s industrial foundation and cultural potential, presenting the region as a “cultural and artistic industrial city.”

Planned Exhibitions: Moments of Gyeongnam – Connecting Past, Present, and Future

“Memory to Moment – Recording the Memories of Labor through Art (Past)”: Artist Kim Choon-jae explores the traces left by labor and industrial materials.

“Steel & Soul – From a City of Steel to a City of Emotion (Present)”: Artist Kim Jae-gak extends the process of cutting and welding metal into a new sculptural language.

“From Machine to Muse – Gyeongnam’s Tomorrow, a Cultural Industrial City of Inspiration (Future)”: Artist Bang Sang-hwan translates industrial rules into artistic expression, reimagining the city as a muse.

Special Exhibitions and Side Events

Special Exhibition 1: A solo exhibition by artist Lee Eun-hwa, who will present works on the themes of relationships, emotions, and dialogue within three color-themed rooms (blue, pink, and yellow).

Special Exhibition 2: A collection of romantic masterpieces from Galleri Kartina, the only Russian art gallery in Korea.

Special Exhibition 3: A special exhibition of Korean contemporary art, highlighting the works of five artists: Kim Dong-yu, Kim Byung-jong, Ahn Jae-deok, Lee Lim, and Jeon Hyuk-lim.

Other Programs

In addition to the exhibitions, the fair will host a variety of events:

Art Talks: Experts like Professor Jung Mi-seon of Kookmin University and art critics Lee Eun-hwa and Kim Yoon-seop will discuss topics such as the value of art and its social role.

Kids’ Lounge: A special space for children to engage in artistic activities.

F&B Lounge: The “Ouga” brand by local company Developen will operate a food and beverage lounge.

Local Art Tours: Curated tours will connect the fair with the broader cultural and artistic ecosystem of the region.

The opening ceremony will take place on the 11th at 5:00 PM in the Conversation Lounge within Exhibition Halls 1 and 2 at the Changwon Convention Center. The Gyeongnam International Art Fair is hosted by Gyeongsangnam-do and Changwon City.

Fair is hosted by Gyeongsangnam-do and Changwon City, and organized by Heungin Corporation, the Gyeongnam Tourism Organization, and the Gyeongsangnam-do Fine Arts Association.

To learn more, visit https://www.giaf.kr/

Address : 33, Pyeongsan-ro, Uichang-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, Republic of Korea

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Media Contact

Company name : Heungin Corporation

Contact person : Kim MinSung

E mail : giaf2025@naver.com

Website : https://www.giaf.kr/

Country: South Korea