P21 was established in 2017 by Soo Choi. Located in Itaewon district, a cultural hub in Seoul, the gallery opened with an inaugural exhibition by Choi Jeong Hwa and continues to promote compelling and original examples of international contemporary art. P21 is known for its unique exhibition space with two separate facades, respectively named P1 and P2, that enable artists to create site-specific works.
P21 represents both established and emerging artists, among them Choi Jeong Hwa, renowned for his vibrantly coloured, large-scale inflatable sculptures and installations; Heemin Chung, whose paintings examine the relationship between traditional and recent media and the phenomenology of digital images; and Lee Byungchan, who critiques the system of production and consumption in today’s world through his ‘creatures’ made up of recycled materials.
The gallery has also collaborated with contemporary artists to organise their solo presentations, including Bek Hyunjin, whose anonymous portraits and abstract paintings examine ordinary life; Hyungkoo Lee, known for his experimental and pseudo-scientific approach that gives rise to his wearable pieces, drawings, sculptures, and performances; and Sun Choi, whose conceptual work explores the nature and the meaning of true art, questioning conventional values and institutionalization of art.
P21 further represents its artists at international art fairs, such as Art Basel Hong Kong and West Bund Art & Design.
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