Vivek Sharma
Korean Cultural Centre India will participate in the Institutional Section of the 17th edition of the India Art Fair,to be held from February 5 to 8, 2026,at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in New Delhi,in collaboration with Keumsan Gallery.
A special K-Art Pavilion with 13 artworks belonging to four contemporary Korean artists–Eunjin Kim,Yongrae Kwon,SINN (Jineon Kim),and Sungyong Hong–will be on display at the Korean Cultural Centre India booth at the venue.
Established in 1992,Keumsan Gallery is one of Korea’s first-generation contemporary art galleries.Its Director, Hwang Dal-seung, served as President of the Korea Galleries Association –an organisation representing leading galleries in Korea – from 2021 to 2025.
This collaboration with a prominent gallery representing the Korean art scene is expected to serve as a stepping stone for Korean art’s deeper entry into international art markets.
It also reflects a broader effort to further globalise K-Art and expand the economic ripple effects of cultural exchange.
The opening ceremony of the special K-Art Pavilion on February 5 will be graced by Lee Seong Ho,Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India,and Dr.Sanjeev Kishor Goutam,Director General of the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA),as chief guests.
Their presence reflects the significance of the initiative and the shared commitment of both countries to strengthening institutional and artistic collaboration in the field of contemporary art.
H.E.Lee Seong Ho said,“Korea and India share a deep and expanding Special Strategic Partnership in which art and culture play a vital role.
Cultural exchanges between our countries have enhanced mutual understanding and strengthened the friendship between our peoples.
It is in this spirit,the Korean Cultural Centre in India is proud to participate in the India Art Fair.Since 2018,we have taken part in this prestigious event, and this year marks our sixth participation.
In collaboration with Keumsan Gallery, the Korean Cultural Centre present works created with uniquely Korean materials,showcasing excellence and originality of Korean contemporary art to the global art community.”
Now in its 17th year, the India Art Fair is a major international art platform that attracts representatives from leading museums and global collectors.
Representing Korea,the Korean Cultural Centre India will present a special K-Art pavilion under the theme “Resonances of Light.”
The exhibition will feature works by four contemporary Korean artists—Eunjin Kim,Yongrae Kwon,SINN (Jineon Kim),and Sungyong Hong.
Through a wide range of materials,from traditional Korean mediums such as mother-of-pearl and lacquer to contemporary materials like stainless steel and aluminium, the artists explore light as a narrative language.
Rather than a simple display of individual works,the exhibition booth is designed to offer visitors an immersive spatial experience where light and sensory perception intersect.
Artist Eunjin Kim expands the use of mother-of-pearl into the language of contemporary painting,layering mythological beings and collective figures to explore themes of power and desire.
Yongrae Kwon hammers and arranges stainless steel to create subtle surface textures,producing shifting light effects that change according to the viewer’s perspective.
SINN (Jineon Kim) scratches aluminium surfaces to reveal layers of memory and imagination,creating scenes where reality and dreams,personal recollections and urban landscapes intersect.
Sungyong Hong explores the fragility of fading memory and unstable perception through the durable medium of traditional lacquer.
Since 2024,Korean Cultural Centre India has participated continuously in the India Art Fair,introducing Korean art to local audiences and building a foundation for artistic exchange.
As interest in Korean culture continues to grow in India, attention toward Korean visual arts has also expanded.
This special Korean pavilion has been curated at the official invitation of the India Art Fair organisers, and this year marks an expanded participation through collaboration with Keumsan Gallery, building on previous engagement and experience.
Hwang Il Yong, Director of Korean Cultural Centre India said,“The Korean Wave,which began with K-pop and K-dramas,is now expanding into the field of visual arts.
By presenting Korean contemporary art on India’s largest art platform,we hope this initiative will also help broaden opportunities for private Korean galleries to engage with overseas markets in the future.”
