The Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) is presenting "K-Digital Encounter: Frieze London 2025," a comprehensive series of special events designed to showcase Korea's art and cultural heritage to international art professionals during one of the world's most prestigious art fairs. The program coincides with Frieze London, which takes place each autumn in Regent's Park and serves as a central platform for global artistic exchange, attracting collectors, curators, and art enthusiasts from around the world.
As part of the Frieze VIP program, KCCUK is offering exclusive 30-minute guided tours of their ongoing special exhibition "Strolling Through Korean Gardens" on October 16-17, 2025. This exhibition, co-organized by KCCUK and the Korea Heritage Service, features immersive video works based on detailed architectural surveys of historical garden sites. Led by KCCUK curators, the tours provide visitors with deep insights into the aesthetics and philosophy of traditional Korean gardens, allowing them to experience the seasonal rhythms and subtle beauty of Korea's natural landscape through cutting-edge digital presentation.
Complementing the exhibition tours, guests can participate in authentic Korean tea ceremonies and tastings on the same dates. These multi-sensory experiences engage sight, sound, and taste while deepening participants' understanding of Korean garden culture. During the tea ceremonies, visitors will learn about "chagyeong" (borrowed scenery), an essential principle in Korean garden design that seamlessly integrates the surrounding landscape into the garden's overall composition.
In alignment with Frieze London's international spirit, KCCUK has announced the selected artists for their upcoming 2025 New Generation Art Exhibition, scheduled to run from November 27, 2025, through February 27, 2026. From over 160 applications submitted by emerging Korean artists, eight were carefully selected by art professionals from major UK art institutions based on their creativity and experimental vision. This program specifically aims to support young Korean artists based in the UK while fostering contemporary art exchange between Korea and Britain.
The K-Art Lab program during Frieze London features a special digital art project that explores the fascinating intersection of technology, heritage, and contemporary artistic expression. Commemorating the upcoming APEC Summit to be held in Gyeongju this November, the center presents immersive VR experiences inspired by Korea's most iconic cultural heritage sites. The first work, titled "One is All, All is One," reimagines the historic Seokguram Grotto through innovative digital interpretation, while "One Moon, A Thousand Rivers" offers visitors a meditative journey inspired by the famous Pensive Bodhisattva sculpture.
These VR experiences invite audiences to transcend traditional boundaries of time and space, engaging with Korea's profound philosophical and aesthetic heritage through cutting-edge technology. The installations embody the K-Art Lab's vision of recontextualizing art through digital innovation, demonstrating how ancient traditions and modern technology can converge to create entirely new forms of artistic experience.
In collaboration with LG Electronics, KCCUK is presenting a groundbreaking new media art project celebrating the legacy of Se Ok Suh, the late master of Korean abstract painting. Iconic works including "Wayfarer," "Joyful Rain," "Person," and "Cycle" have been transformed into dynamic digital animations where Suh's original brushstrokes and flowing lines are brought vividly to life through motion and light. These animated reinterpretations sensitively capture the vitality and spirituality inherent in Suh's artwork, allowing viewers to feel the living rhythm of his ink and gestures in an entirely new way.
The project holds particular significance as Suh's art has been reinterpreted by renowned artist Do Ho Suh and architect Eul Ho Seo, adding contemporary perspectives to the master's classical works. A short documentary film about Se Ok Suh's life and artistic philosophy will be screened in the KCCUK lobby, offering visitors deeper appreciation of his substantial contribution to modern Korean art and aesthetics.
Seunghye Sun, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre UK, emphasized the program's broader cultural mission, stating: "In this golden age of Korean Culture, we must take the lead in shaping a creative cultural industry that bridges Korea's rich traditions with its future—through the fusion of art and cutting-edge technology. Imagination, which allows dreams to unfold freely, is the driving force behind our growth. By uniting the captivating aesthetics of K-Culture with the power of digital technology, we will pave the way for a brighter future for the cultural industries, creating new connections between culture, science, and education."
Together, these diverse projects demonstrate KCCUK's ongoing commitment to bridging Korea's artistic heritage with contemporary creativity while sharing the depth, harmony, and innovation of Korean art with international audiences. The K-Digital Encounter program represents a comprehensive approach to cultural diplomacy that leverages both traditional Korean aesthetics and modern technological capabilities to create meaningful cross-cultural connections in the global art world.
