Phillips returns to Seoul with Azure Horizons exhibition showcasing contemporary and modern art

Phillips is returning to Seoul’s Songwon Art Center from August 30 to September 8 with “Azure Horizons: A Journey Through Blue,” coinciding with Frieze Seoul and Kiaf. This exhibition, curated by PhillipsX, showcases contemporary works by international and Korean artists, including Nicolas Party, Ugo Rondinone, and Flora Yukhnovich, exploring the beauty and symbolism of the colour blue

Phillips, the renowned auction house, is set to make a splash in Seoul’s vibrant art scene with an exhibition at The Songwon Art Center from August 30 to September 8. This event, coinciding with Frieze Seoul and Kiaf, underscores the company’s commitment to the burgeoning Korean art market.

The exhibition’s centrepiece, “Azure Horizons: A Journey Through Blue,” is a group show curated by PhillipsX, the auction house’s private sales arm. It features works by international and Korean contemporary artists, including Nicolas Party, Ugo Rondinone, and Flora Yukhnovich. The show explores the multifaceted beauty and symbolism of azure, a colour steeped in artistic history.

Highlights include Nicolas Party’s “Tree with snow”, a soft pastel work that showcases the artist’s precision and grace. Ugo Rondinone’s “vierundzwanzigsterjunizweitausendundfünfzehn” offers a cloud-like abstraction that challenges perceptions of space and language. Flora Yukhnovich’s “Tondo” presents a contemporary interpretation of Rococo style, signaling a shift in the artist’s palette and focus.

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The exhibition also previews highlights from Phillips’ upcoming Modern & Contemporary Art Fall Auctions in Hong Kong. A standout piece is Sanyu’s “Reclining Nude, with Raised Knee II,” from the collection of Dr Eric Edwards. This masterpiece, the largest painting of a female form by Sanyu remaining in a private French collection, represents a significant opportunity for collectors.

Pierre Soulages’s “Peinture 202 x 143 cm, 25 septembre 1967” will make its auction debut, showcasing the artist’s mastery of light and shadow. The piece reflects Soulages’s minimalist approach and the influence of Japanese aesthetics.

This exhibition not only showcases Phillips’ curatorial prowess but also highlights the auction house’s strategic focus on the Korean market. With a 70 per cent increase in buying activity from South Korean clients in the first half of 2024, Phillips is positioning itself as a key player in the country’s flourishing art scene.

As Seoul continues to cement its status as an art world hub, Phillips’ exhibition serves as a testament to the city’s growing importance in the global art market. It offers both seasoned collectors and art enthusiasts a unique opportunity to engage with a diverse range of contemporary and modern masterpieces, bridging Eastern and Western artistic traditions.

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