ART BASEL PARIS

The show’s third edition, featuring 195 leading galleries from 42 countries, will be organised around a series of curated sectors including ‘Galeries’, the fair’s main sector; ‘Emergence’, dedicated to the radical work of emerging talents and new voices; and the newly introduced ‘Premise’, devoted to highly singular projects that seek to broaden our understanding of the conventional art historical canon, with a particular focus on compelling yet little-known artistic practices. The event has been organised in collaboration with Miu Miu, the official sponsor of the public program, and will feature engaging programs accessible to the public, enriching the art and cultural landscape of Paris.

In the Galeries sector, Kukje Gallery will showcase a wide range of works by renowned Korean and international artists. The curated selection of Korean artists will include Park Seo-Bo’s reinterpretation of his signature_Écriture_ series in ceramic form, titled Écriture (描法) No. 220701 (2022). This powerful series captures the artist’s inspiration drawn from nature as he explores the materiality of clay and the traditional medium of ceramics. The booth will also introduce Ha Chong-Hyun’s work Conjunction 23-71 (2023), which employs his unique technique of bae-ap-bub, a method of pushing paint from the back to the front of the hemp cloth. Following exhibitions at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, and the Guggenheim Museum, New York, Ha was featured in the exhibition Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s–1970s at the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles. Also on view will be Untitled (c. 1980s) by the Dansaekwha artist Kwon Young-Woo, an aesthetic pioneer who has reinvented the use of traditional Korean paper, known as hanji, by layering and puncturing the picture plane and allowing pigment to drip and spread through the tears, and Meditation 9620 (1996) by Chung Chang-Sup which highlights the aesthetic qualities of Tak, the main material of hanji, by applying kneaded bark fiber from the material directly onto the canvas. Furthermore, the booth will present Untitled (1965) by Wook-kyung Choi, a pivotal figure in Korean modern art, known for her experimental spirit along with her unique approach to abstract expressionist works. Also on view will be_Nucleus 88-50_ (1988) by Lee Seung Jio, a prominent figure widely recognised for leading geometric abstraction in Korea. His Nucleus series, characterised by cool colours and repeated pipe-motifs that create contrasting compositions, is currently being featured at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in Hyundai Card First Look: Lee Seung Jio.

The selection will also include various works by contemporary Korean artists, including Gold (KR 046) (2023), part of Koo Bohnchang’s Gold series, which began in 2016. The piece captures a sense of timelessness inherent in the ancient artifact of the Cheonmachong Crown Ornament, using carefully adjusted lighting against a gold leaf background to evoke an ethereal atmosphere. Kyungah Ham, who is currently the subject of a solo exhibition at Kukje Gallery, will feature her embroidery work Phantom and A Map / Poetry 06WBXS01V2 (2018-2024). Characterized by a vivacious splash of color, meticulously crafted surfaces, and visually stunning complexity, the embroidered painting highlights the dynamics between the conspicuous and the inconspicuous elements that come into play in forming a single image. Moreover, the booth will introduce recent work by Haegue Yang, a contemporary artist who divides her time between Berlin and Seoul, titled Spring Lantern Spider Armor Serenade – Mesmerizing Mesh #251 (2024). Inspired by the Sacred Paper Cutting ritual, a tradition of making shamanistic paper objects, Mesmerizing Mesh integrates the methodology of forming layers and dimensions out of patterns and ornamentation using the elaborate translucency of hanji. The artist is currently presenting a solo exhibition Haegue Yang: Flat Works at the Arts Club of Chicago, focusing on her two-dimensional works, while her first survey show in the UK, Haegue Yang: Leap Year, is on view at the Hayward Gallery.

The booth will also showcase key works by international artists currently holding solo exhibitions or anticipating upcoming exhibitions worldwide. This includes Lisa Lyon (1981) by Robert Mapplethorpe, one of the most acclaimed and iconic photographers of the late 20th century. The piece showcases Mapplethorpe’s distinctive photographic aesthetics, works characterised by their exquisitely calculated lighting, composition, and delicate contrast. Also featured will be Witness (2022) by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor, who recently won the 2025 Wilhelm Lehmbruck Prize for Sculpture. This gouache drawing is infused with visual chaos and raw, visceral energy. Additional selections include the sculpture On Target, Fig. 8 (2022) by the Berlin-based artist duo Elmgreen & Dragset, which challenges the way we perceive the world. Known for their humorous and philosophical approach across various media such as sculpture, performance, design, architecture, and theatre, the duo’s artistic universe can also be explored in their solo exhibition Spaces at the Amorepacific Museum of Art, with their upcoming solo exhibition L’Addition at the Musée d’Orsay on October 15.

Meanwhile, Kukje Gallery is holding a major solo exhibition by Kyungah Ham across K1, K3, and the Hanok space through November 3, 2024. Known for her embroidery project, which is characterised by bright colours and meticulously crafted surfaces, Ham presents a selection of new works from her eponymous series. Concurrently, in the K2 space, Michael Joo’s solo exhibition Soft Skills and Underground Whispers is on view. The exhibition delves into the connections embedded in everyday perceptions, drawing attention to the often unarticulated influences that shape our experiences. Featuring a series of new works with acrylic panels and dichroic glass, along with a long-term series of silver epoxy paintings, the exhibition intertwines personal narratives with Joo’s artistic explorations, providing a comprehensive view into his life and creative journey.