AI Does Art Docents? Art Busan 2023 Showcases New Experiments

How long will the Korean art market adjustment last? Amid a sharp drop in the total amount and winning rate of the Korean art auction market in the first quarter, art fairs continue to attract many visitors. The 41st Gallery Art Fair, which was held at COEX in Seoul in April, attracted 58,000 people. The number of visitors to the Galleries Art Fair increased by 5,000 from last year, the highest ever. A large number of new artists were presented, and collectors’ attention was also focused on this. However, the amount of art sales was not disclosed this year. The atmosphere was quite different from the time when the Galleries Art Fair sold about USD 13.4 million (KRW 17.7 billion) in 2022.

Meanwhile, Art Busan 2023, which involved 146 galleries from 22 countries around the world, kicked off at BEXCO in Busan from May 5 to 7, 2023. Art Busan, which has established itself as one of Korea’s top three art fairs, is in its 12th year and is the second largest fair in Korea after the Korea International Art Fair (KIAF). Last year, more than 100,000 people visited, and sales reached about $56.3 million (KRW 74.6 billion), the highest total ever. This year, 35 galleries from 21 countries, including 111 Korean galleries, exhibited and sold their works.

Art Busan 2023 showcased interesting experiments with artificial intelligence (AI). Through Chat GPT-based exhibition commentary service Chat Docent, visitors could be guided to participating galleries, artists, and works. In addition, visitors could receive a viewing course through Art Busan’s pre-entered “Feeling and Weather Customized Movement.” The AI art creation program “DALL·E 2” produced digital works according to the setting of works ordered by visitors and printed them. In line with this, “Conversations” were also prepared to discuss the interface between the art market and new technologies. It is expected that various discussions will take place on the meeting between art and generative AI.

Busan Art Week is a new program created this year. The plan was designed to lead to major galleries in Busan, art museums, and local F&B brands. The intention is to provide an opportunity to enjoy Busan and Busan art together. During the event, art buses that tour major places are also operated for free.

Starting with “Main,” which shows representative works of participating galleries, the special exhibition “CONNECT” has prepared 12 exhibition programs involving domestic and foreign artists, galleries, and institutions. Among them, Art Accent 2023 “Nostalgic Mansion,” a program to support new artists, displayed works under the theme of “Portrait of the City” by five artists: Hahyung Kwon, Hansam Park, Inhye Seo, Gunyul Jang, and Wonhae Hwang. Visitors could also meet Tatsuo Miyajima, a Japanese media art master known for his number work on electronic boards, and large balloon sculptures by star pop artist Philip Colbert.

“Art Busan has established itself as a representative Korean cultural event where you can enjoy art, luxury, and recreation,” said Younghee Sohn, chairman of Art Busan. “For the new decade of Art Busan, we will leap forward as a global art platform that dreams of popularization and globalization of the Korean art market.”

More information on Art Busan 2023 can be found on the event’s website