KOREAN EYE:  FANTASTIC ORDINARY

KOREA’S LEADING CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS SHOWCASED IN LATEST KOREAN EYE EXHIBITION SPONSORED BY STANDARD CHARTERED

3rd July - 18th July, Saatchi Gallery, London

Korean Eye, sponsored by Standard Chartered, today announced their latest exhibition: Korean Eye: Fantastic Ordinary.  Building on the huge success of last year’s Korean Eye: Moon Generation, Korean Eye seeks to create a legacy of Korean contemporary art by supporting emerging and more established Korean artists by exhibiting their work internationally. The launch of this new exhibition in London provides a unique opportunity for education and the appreciation of Korea’s rapidly developing art scene, which until recently had little exposure outside of Korea.   

In 2009 Korean Eye attracted over 250,000 visitors to the Saatchi Gallery. Fantastic Ordinary brings together this year’s selection of leading and emerging Korean artists, and deals with everyday life.

Fantastic Ordinary will feature around 30 works by the following 10 artists: Bae Chan Hyo; Bae Joon Sung; Gwon Osang; Hong Young In; Jeon Joon Ho; Ji Yong Ho; Kim Dong Yoo; Kim Hyunsoo; Park Eun Young; and Shin Meekyoung. In addition, Fantastic Ordinary will also include the 2009 JoongAng Fine Art Prize Winner Jeon Chae-gang and Perrier Jouet nominated artist Lee Rim.

The selection of work has been made by an international curatorial board, including Director of Hanart TZ Gallery and Chinese Curator Tsong-zung Chang, Royal College of Art Honorary Fellow Serenella Ciclitira, Art Consultant and Curator Amelie von Wedel, renowned contemporary art specialist Rodman Primack, Curator/Art Historian Jiyoon Lee and last year’s Curator Daehyung Lee. 

As leading partner and sponsor of Korean Eye, Standard Chartered continues to promote Korea overseas, and is supporting contemporary Korean artists acting as a bridge to the international art world. Dr Tim Miller, Director of Standard Chartered and Chairman of Standard Chartered First Bank Korea, said “We are delighted to be supporting Korean Eye once again. The diverse range of talent and expression on display as part of the exhibition this year is truly exceptional. Standard Chartered is committed to the long term development of the communities in which we operate, as a demonstration of our commitment to be Here for good.” He added, “We are proud to be here for Korean contemporary artists and to use our global network to support them.”

David Ciclitira, the founder of Korean Eye, said “After such an amazing response last year we are delighted to be working directly with the Saatchi Gallery who have invited us to exhibit within their space. I am incredibly excited about this year’s selection and am expecting it to cause a real buzz. Yet again we have managed to discover some true talent.”

Nigel Hurst, CEO of the Saatchi Gallery, said “After the success of Korean Eye in 2009, the Saatchi Gallery is delighted to support this year’s exhibition and have greater involvement in Korean Eye going forward. This year’s exhibition offers another outstanding selection of fresh and arresting work.”

Fantastic Ordinary continues Korean Eye’s mission to promote Korean art globally and with an annual exhibition, charting a path for an impressive cultural contribution to the London Olympics in 2012.  Korean Eye is proud to expand the exhibition to Singapore this year and expects to expand further each year to include additional international cities. An accompanying catalogue featuring each of the artists work will be available.

This summer also sees the publication by SKIRA of the Korean Eye book, “Korean Eye: Contemporary Korean Art”, which will be launched during the Korean Eye Exhibition in London at the Saatchi Gallery on July 5^th.  The first major global work to promote Korean Contemporary Art in English Korean Eye: Contemporary Korean Art will become a definitive point of reference for the Korean Contemporary art scene.

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CONTACTS: KOREAN EYE – United Kingdom

Frances Quigley

Email: f.quigley@parallelmediagroup.com

Tel: +44 7879 447 340

Rory Renwick

Email: r.renwick@parallelmediagroup.com

Tel: +44 207 225 2000

Tel: +44 7980 306 004

Sarah Baptiste

Email: s.baptiste@parallelmediagroup.com

Tel: +44 207 225 2000

Tel: +44 75 9090 1838