Playing is prohibited in South Korea, a rustic that strives to curb socially harmful addictions. Nevertheless, as with most locations with such prohibitions, there are exceptions. Right here, that exception is Paradise Metropolis, a singular complicated simply exterior Seoul close to Incheon Airport, the place solely foreigners can gamble however many South Koreans nonetheless go to to benefit from the mega mall, a 5-star luxurious resort, eating places and the distinctive on-site assortment of up to date artwork.
That artwork is seamlessly built-in all through the complicated in a design scheme typically described as “art-tainment.” As a testomony to the power of the connection between Paradise Metropolis and South Korea’s cultural and creative scene, the complicated has, since Frieze Seoul’s inaugural version, hosted a mega celebration, Paradise Artwork Night time, which celebrates the truthful and kicks off every week of cultural occasions. Attendees have included Okay-celebrities and worldwide stars, who’re invited—or in some circumstances paid—to attend.
Observer had the prospect to discover this uncommon “paradise” throughout Seoul Artwork Week, taking a tour of the complicated and its artwork assortment earlier than the festivities started. This yr’s Artwork Week occasion was co-hosted by music producer Pharrell Williams, who promoted his newest enterprise, the public sale platform Joopiter, unveiling G-Dragon’s assortment, now accessible on the market. Titled “Nothing however a ‘G’ Thang: The Artwork & Archive of G-Dragon,” the sale incorporates a number of G-Dragon’s style objects, modern artworks, design objects and memorabilia, in addition to specifically commissioned artwork for the occasion.
G-Dragon, probably the most well-liked Okay-pop stars and a former member of the long-lasting band BIGBANG, is thought for his deep ardour for the humanities. He was one of many first Okay-pop celebrities to publicly share his artwork assortment, serving to make artwork accumulating “fashionable” in South Korea.
That very same evening, Paradise Artwork Night time celebrated Josh Sperling’s exhibition Marvel—the artist’s first present in South Korea. Organized by Perrotin, the present options items from Sperling’s signature colourful “Spiral” collection and several other of his “Squiggle” benches, making a kaleidoscopic setting that overstimulates the senses and hypnotically attracts guests into the rhythm of the types and colour gradients that dominate the area.
Pharrell Williams, in a big mild blue hat, confirmed up early to go to the exhibition accompanied by a sizeable entourage. With him was G-Dragon, who attracted a big assemblage of excited Korean teenagers who descended upon Paradise Metropolis’s indoor plaza hoping to take an image of their idol. Each celebrities finally upset most of the occasion’s attendees, who had been hoping to see performances on the evening’s festivities. As an alternative, Williams and G-Dragon disappeared shortly after the gala dinner for an unique group of VIP company.
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After the present’s opening and public sale preview, many of the crowd headed to Chroma Membership for the afterparty. Designed by Amsterdam-based agency MVDRV, the membership options futuristic structure resembling a large artwork set up impressed by the concept of a melting solar. On this psychedelic environment, company loved a wierd mixture of muffins, sizzling canine and fried panzerotti, together with never-ending drinks. Okay-rapper Simon Dominic and American rapper Pusha-T took the stage, finally drawing the Korean crowd onto the dancefloor. Among the many attendees, Observer noticed artist Daniel Arsham and the Perrotin group, together with quite a few Korean celebrities and influencers.
The couple behind Paradise Metropolis and its artwork
Paradise Metropolis is the product of a three way partnership between Korea’s Paradise Group, which is owned by artwork collector Phillip Chun, and Japan’s Sega Sammy, a company centered on leisure and gaming. The posh complicated opened in 2017 following an preliminary funding of $1.7 billion.
Paradise Metropolis’s museum-worthy artwork assortment, which options over 3,000 artworks with 280 of these displayed in public areas and the remaining in non-public rooms, displays Phillip Chun and his spouse Elizabeth Chun’s decades-long ardour for accumulating artwork. Ranked amongst ArtNews’ high 200 collectors worldwide, they reportedly have one among South Korea’s most notable collections of up to date and fashionable artwork. Chun has described Paradise Artwork Area—the complicated’s expansive exhibition gallery—as “a hub of latest Asian fashionable and modern artwork the place Korean and international cultures are introduced collectively.” Certainly, the couple can afford to spare no expense in buying and commissioning art work for the complicated, as Forbes estimates that Phillip Chun’s internet value is roughly $765 million.
Among the many assortment’s highlights are distinctive commissions by blue-chip artists created particularly for Paradise Metropolis. These embrace a shocking collection of gold and silver prison-cell-inspired canvases by Peter Halley that dominate the resort’s reception space, a gold-and-flesh horse by Damien Hirst on the entrance and an iconic Yayoi Kusama pumpkin main the best way into the on line casino. Visitors strolling by way of the resort’s corridors can even see works by distinguished Korean artists similar to Lee Bae, Park Website positioning-Bo, Kim Hodeuk and Kim Tschang-Yeul, reflecting the Chun’s dedication to selling each the Korean artwork scene and modern artwork historical past.
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Within the spacious indoor plaza surrounded by eating places, there are a number of spectacular sculptures, together with Jeff Koons’ Hercules along with his signature Gazing Ball, a monumental piece by KAWS and a gold canvas by Damien Hirst. Monumental sculptural works additionally populate the complicated’s outside greenspaces—there are Subodh Gupta’s towering stainless-steel utensil set up, Ugo Rondinone’s colourful neon signal Canine Days Are Over and Anish Kapoor’s polished steel curvilinear C-Curve. Since 2018, Paradise Artwork Area has often hosted exhibitions curated by notable figures like Seoul-based designer and director Jung Kuho. It’s presently displaying the aforementioned Josh Sperling exhibition.
The one doubtlessly controversial function of this in any other case distinctive artwork expertise is the “Paradise Stroll.” Described on the complicated’s web site as “an distinctive expertise that stimulates the visible and auditory senses always, with the standard Korean five-color mild,” the set up by the collective Marvel Medium bears a putting resemblance to James Turrell’s works, leaving some to marvel whether it is an homage—or just a poor imitation. In any other case, Paradise Metropolis actually does stand out as a profitable instance of an “art-tainment” vacation spot that may stand by itself in an more and more crowded cultural panorama.
