Gwangju Biennale Foundation Launches ‘Gwangju Biennale Park Seo-Bo Art Prize’

From left: GIZI Foundation Chairman Park Seong-ho, artist Park Seo-Bo, Gwangju Biennale Foundation President Park Yang-woo at the signing ceremony

Gwangju Biennale Foundation
https://www.gwangjubiennale.org

The Gwangju Biennale Foundation, in tandem with the GIZI Foundation launches ‘Gwangju Biennale Park Seo-Bo Art Prize,’ a new award program to create a more sustainable, creative environment for visual arts. The GIZI Foundation was founded in 2019 with funding by artist Park Seo-Bo, who spearheaded the Dansaekhwa(Korean monochrome painting) movement.

The two foundations held a ceremony on February 7 at the premises of the GIZI Foundation located in Yeonhee-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, to sign a sponsorship agreement for the newly launched award. Present at this event were artist Park Seo-Bo, President Park Yang-woo of the Gwangju Biennale Foundation, and Chairman Park Seong-ho of the GIZI Foundation.

According to the agreement, the GIZI Foundation will commit a total of $1 million in prize money. The winning artist (or group) will be granted $100,000 and selected among participating Biennale artists by the Judging Committee consisting of domestic and overseas art experts. The first award will be given at the 14th Gwangju Biennale, which opens in April next year, and will continue each edition until 2042.

President Park Yang-woo at the ceremony stated: “Since Korea was nothing more than a barren land, Park Seo-Bo has been at the forefront of Korean modern arts bringing forth Dansaekhwa to the world. His unwavering conviction as an artist aligned with our mission to become a gateway for local artists to enter the global stage, which led to the establishment of this award. I hope that the ‘Gwangju Biennale Park Seo-Bo Art Prize’ will provide artists who are dedicating their life to creative works with strength and support, and over time, revitalize the whole art community.”

GIZI Foundation Chairman Park Seong-ho stated: “it is most meaningful for our organization to sponsor the ‘Gwangju Biennale Park Seo-Bo Art Prize’ as its purpose is in line with the GIZI Foundation’s founding principles of supporting creative activities and discovering artists in uncharted fields.”

The Gwangju Biennale Foundation has previously organized several awards to support contemporary artists. The Noon Award was the first officially established award given to artists participating in the Gwangju Biennale from 2010 to 2016. As the Noon Award continues as the ‘Gwangju Biennale Park Seo-Bo Art Prize,’ the Gwangju Biennale Foundation expects the award will build upon the various efforts that have been made by the Foundation to prepare a trendsetting exhibition of the finest quality, allowing the Biennale to evolve into an even greater event befitting of its reputation.

“As an elder who has devoted an entire life to painting and also as a fellow member of the arts community, I wanted to support artists participating in the Gwangju Biennale. I hope that despite the difficulties that lie ahead, they continue, with a sense of duty as an artist, to be a positive influence on society and improve it,” said artist Park Seo-Bo.