Artist
Since the early 1990s, KOO JEONG A (they/them – b. 1967, lives and works everywhere) has made works that are seemingly casual and commonplace, yet at the same time remarkably precise, deliberate, and considered. Their reflections on the senses and the body incorporate objects, still and moving images, audio elements, and aromas. Many of their works are conceived within site-specific environments that question the limits of fact and fiction, the imaginary and actuality of our world. KOO considers the connection of energies between place and people, relying on chance to drive their encounters.
KOO held solo shows at Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, Germany (2012), Dia Art Foundation, Dia: Beacon, USA (2010), and Centre Pompidou, France (2004), where they gained their international stature. They have participated in various international exhibitions, including La Biennale di Venezia, Italy (2014, 2009, 2003, 2001, 1995), Liverpool Biennale, UK (2010), Busan and Gwangju Biennales, South Korea (2020; 2014, 2002, 1997), the Guggenheim Museum, USA (2010, 2004, 2002), Fondation Louis Vuitton, France (2015), and National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, South Korea (2015). KOO was a finalist for the Hugo Boss Prize in 2002, won the Hermes Korea Prize for contemporary art in 2005, and was named as 2016 Artist of the Year by the Korean Cultural Centre UK.
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Since the early 1990s, KOO JEONG A (they/them – b. 1967, lives and works everywhere) has made works that are seemingly casual and commonplace, yet at the same time remarkably precise, deliberate, and considered. Their reflections on the senses and the body incorporate objects, still and moving images, audio elements, and aromas. Many of their works are conceived within site-specific environments that question the limits of fact and fiction, the imaginary and actuality of our world. KOO considers the connection of energies between place and people, relying on chance to drive their encounters.
KOO held solo shows at Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, Germany (2012), Dia Art Foundation, Dia: Beacon, USA (2010), and Centre Pompidou, France (2004), where they gained their international stature. They have participated in various international exhibitions, including La Biennale di Venezia, Italy (2014, 2009, 2003, 2001, 1995), Liverpool Biennale, UK (2010), Busan and Gwangju Biennales, South Korea (2020; 2014, 2002, 1997), the Guggenheim Museum, USA (2010, 2004, 2002), Fondation Louis Vuitton, France (2015), and National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, South Korea (2015). KOO was a finalist for the Hugo Boss Prize in 2002, won the Hermes Korea Prize for contemporary art in 2005, and was named as 2016 Artist of the Year by the Korean Cultural Centre UK.
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ARTISTIC DIRECTORS
Seolhui Lee (b. 1987, lives and works in Aarhus) is the chief curator at Kunsthal Aarhus in Denmark (2023–present). She previously served as the head of the exhibition team for the Busan Biennale 2020, was a curator at the Seoul Museum of Art (2018–2019), and worked for the Korea Artist Prize 2012 at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, South Korea (2012–2013). In addition, Lee has served as an adjunct professor at the Korea National University of Arts (2019–2022) and the Kaywon University of Art & Design, South Korea (2022–2023). In conjunction with her studies, Lee’s essays have been published in Korean Contemporary Art Since 1990 (2017) and Reading Korean Contemporary Art with Keywords (2019). She is also a contributor for various art publications, including the contemporary Korean art magazine Art In Culture since 2020.
Jacob Fabricius (b. 1970, lives and works in Copenhagen) is the director of Art Hub Copenhagen in Denmark (2021–present). Prior to this, Fabricius was the artistic director at Kunsthal Aarhus (2016–2021), where he curated several exhibitions by South Korean artists. In 2019, he was appointed as the artistic director for the Busan Biennale 2020 and curated the exhibition Words at an Exhibition: an exhibition in ten chapters and five poems. Fabricius has also served as the director at Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Denmark (2013–2014), artistic director at Malmö Konsthall, Sweden (2008–2012), associate curator at the Centre d’Art Santa Mònica, Spain (2006–2008), Cneai=, France (2015–2016), and artistic director of Contour 2013, 6th Biennial of Moving Image, Belgium (2012–2013).
Seolhui Lee (b. 1987, lives and works in Aarhus) is the chief curator at Kunsthal Aarhus in Denmark (2023–present). She previously served as the head of the exhibition team for the Busan Biennale 2020, was a curator at the Seoul Museum of Art (2018–2019), and worked for the Korea Artist Prize 2012 at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, South Korea (2012–2013). In addition, Lee has served as an adjunct professor at the Korea National University of Arts (2019–2022) and the Kaywon University of Art & Design, South Korea (2022–2023). In conjunction with her studies, Lee’s essays have been published in Korean Contemporary Art Since 1990 (2017) and Reading Korean Contemporary Art with Keywords (2019). She is also a contributor for various art publications, including the contemporary Korean art magazine Art In Culture since 2020.
Jacob Fabricius (b. 1970, lives and works in Copenhagen) is the director of Art Hub Copenhagen in Denmark (2021–present). Prior to this, Fabricius was the artistic director at Kunsthal Aarhus (2016–2021), where he curated several exhibitions by South Korean artists. In 2019, he was appointed as the artistic director for the Busan Biennale 2020 and curated the exhibition Words at an Exhibition: an exhibition in ten chapters and five poems. Fabricius has also served as the director at Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Denmark (2013–2014), artistic director at Malmö Konsthall, Sweden (2008–2012), associate curator at the Centre d’Art Santa Mònica, Spain (2006–2008), Cneai=, France (2015–2016), and artistic director of Contour 2013, 6th Biennial of Moving Image, Belgium (2012–2013).
