’Opera Gallery doesn’t only deal in expensive works’
As one passes by the Cheongdam intersection in southern Seoul, it is hard not to notice the glass windowed shop on the first floor of the Nature Poem building, where colorful artwork seems to be peering out the window.
It is Opera Gallery Seoul, the Seoul branch of the world’s leading gallery chain which first opened in Singapore in 1994. Opera Gallery has 11 branches all over the world, including its head office in Paris, and holds a wide collection of art by masters including Chagall, Renoir and Picasso, as well as contemporary artists such as Romero Britto and Keith Haring.
Kwon Gee-chan, chief executive of Wearfun International, opened the Seoul branch -- which became city’s first chain gallery -- in October 2007. Not only was Kwon already a well-known figure in the fashion industry as one of the first importers of high-end fashion products to Korea, but he was also an avid collector of art.
“I had already been collecting artworks for about 20 years back then. I had over 300 pieces. Every time I went on a business trip to Europe, five or six times a year, I looked around different art museums and galleries. And Opera Gallery, which happened to have the works that were exactly my taste, was always my must-visit spot,” Kwon told The Korea Herald.
So his first encounter with Gilles Dyan, the founder and chairman of Opera Gallery International, was as a collector and an art dealer.
“I admired the way he ran the galleries. I attentively watched when he opened a branch in Hong Kong, thinking I would bring it to Seoul if it succeeds. And about three years ago when the Korean art market expanded explosively, I grabbed my chance,” said Kwon.
Colorful, fun and optimistic artwork makes him relax and feel better, Kwon said. He even owns a personal gallery in the basement of his corporate building in Samseong-dong, where he goes down when he is stressed out or has to make some crucial decisions.
“I wanted to share the same kind of pleasure with Seoul citizens by offering them a chance to see the masterpieces of Chagall and Picasso right here in Korea. Everyone is free to come in or peer through the glass windows while driving past the building,” Kwon said.
Opera Gallery has a reputation for holding exhibitions of high profile international artists. As the largest shareholder of the gallery’s Seoul branch with a 51 percent stake, the head office takes the initiative in organizing exhibitions although discussions are actively held with Kwon, who holds 49 percent of the stake.
At the moment, Damien Hirst’s solo exhibition is underway at Opera Gallery Seoul. About 30 pieces, including a lithograph of a diamond-studded skull with real human teeth “For the Love of God, Believe,” is on display through May 15.
“It is a pity that we could not bring some of the much-talked about Hirst pieces. Still, this is another opportunity to see works by a world-class artist at our home,” said Kwon.
As much as the gallery is famous for exhibitions of celebrated artists, however, it is infamous among the Korean public for neglecting Korean artists.
“We did avoid holding Korean artists’ exhibitions because we did not want to be seen as being in rivalry with some 200 galleries in Korea. Holding exhibitions of veteran Korean artists would immediately mean competition,” said Kwon.
“Instead, we are trying to hold exhibitions for the artists we discovered, not just in Seoul but also in other parts of the world through the gallery’s branches. Introducing the works of Korean artists to the world is in fact the most important goal of Opera Gallery Seoul.”
In that sense, the Seoul branch has been quite successful so far. Korean artist Yim Tae-kyu’s show opened at Opera Gallery London last week and Kwon Ki-soo and Lee Dong-uk will hold exhibitions at the Paris branch in July and December, respectively.
Kwon mentioned another “prejudice” about Opera Gallery Seoul; that the works are way too expensive compared to other galleries in Korea.
“We do have expensive works but we also have works that are marked below 1 million won ($895,000). Moreover, the works are available for collectors at the same price at all Opera Gallery branches,” Kwon explained.
The gallery is trying different approaches to lose its snobbish image. Lending its works to public spaces is one.
“It will be the third anniversary of Opera Gallery Seoul in October. It has not been discussed with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, but I have plans to exhibit some 50 sculptures by Dali at the Seoul Plaza in front of the City Hall,” he added.
For more information on the Damien Hirst exhibition or on Opera Gallery, visit www.operagallery.com
By Park Min-young (claire@heraldm.com)
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| Kwon Gee-chan, chairman of Opera Gallery Seoul, poses in front of “All you need is Love, Love, Love, Diamond Dust” by Damien Hirst Lee Sang-sub/ The Korea Herald |
Kwon Gee-chan, chief executive of Wearfun International, opened the Seoul branch -- which became city’s first chain gallery -- in October 2007. Not only was Kwon already a well-known figure in the fashion industry as one of the first importers of high-end fashion products to Korea, but he was also an avid collector of art.
“I had already been collecting artworks for about 20 years back then. I had over 300 pieces. Every time I went on a business trip to Europe, five or six times a year, I looked around different art museums and galleries. And Opera Gallery, which happened to have the works that were exactly my taste, was always my must-visit spot,” Kwon told The Korea Herald.
So his first encounter with Gilles Dyan, the founder and chairman of Opera Gallery International, was as a collector and an art dealer.
“I admired the way he ran the galleries. I attentively watched when he opened a branch in Hong Kong, thinking I would bring it to Seoul if it succeeds. And about three years ago when the Korean art market expanded explosively, I grabbed my chance,” said Kwon.
Colorful, fun and optimistic artwork makes him relax and feel better, Kwon said. He even owns a personal gallery in the basement of his corporate building in Samseong-dong, where he goes down when he is stressed out or has to make some crucial decisions.
“I wanted to share the same kind of pleasure with Seoul citizens by offering them a chance to see the masterpieces of Chagall and Picasso right here in Korea. Everyone is free to come in or peer through the glass windows while driving past the building,” Kwon said.
Opera Gallery has a reputation for holding exhibitions of high profile international artists. As the largest shareholder of the gallery’s Seoul branch with a 51 percent stake, the head office takes the initiative in organizing exhibitions although discussions are actively held with Kwon, who holds 49 percent of the stake.
At the moment, Damien Hirst’s solo exhibition is underway at Opera Gallery Seoul. About 30 pieces, including a lithograph of a diamond-studded skull with real human teeth “For the Love of God, Believe,” is on display through May 15.
“It is a pity that we could not bring some of the much-talked about Hirst pieces. Still, this is another opportunity to see works by a world-class artist at our home,” said Kwon.
As much as the gallery is famous for exhibitions of celebrated artists, however, it is infamous among the Korean public for neglecting Korean artists.
“We did avoid holding Korean artists’ exhibitions because we did not want to be seen as being in rivalry with some 200 galleries in Korea. Holding exhibitions of veteran Korean artists would immediately mean competition,” said Kwon.
“Instead, we are trying to hold exhibitions for the artists we discovered, not just in Seoul but also in other parts of the world through the gallery’s branches. Introducing the works of Korean artists to the world is in fact the most important goal of Opera Gallery Seoul.”
In that sense, the Seoul branch has been quite successful so far. Korean artist Yim Tae-kyu’s show opened at Opera Gallery London last week and Kwon Ki-soo and Lee Dong-uk will hold exhibitions at the Paris branch in July and December, respectively.
Kwon mentioned another “prejudice” about Opera Gallery Seoul; that the works are way too expensive compared to other galleries in Korea.
“We do have expensive works but we also have works that are marked below 1 million won ($895,000). Moreover, the works are available for collectors at the same price at all Opera Gallery branches,” Kwon explained.
The gallery is trying different approaches to lose its snobbish image. Lending its works to public spaces is one.
“It will be the third anniversary of Opera Gallery Seoul in October. It has not been discussed with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, but I have plans to exhibit some 50 sculptures by Dali at the Seoul Plaza in front of the City Hall,” he added.
For more information on the Damien Hirst exhibition or on Opera Gallery, visit www.operagallery.com
By Park Min-young (claire@heraldm.com)
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답글삭제갤러리 시리즈 1_ 오페라갤러리 권기찬 대표 ’Opera Gallery doesn’t only deal in expensive works’ As one passes by the Cheongdam intersection in southern Seoul, it is h..