The Italian Embassy in Seoul and the Italian Cultural Institute hosted the opening of the exhibition Italy at Frieze: The Golden Trace on September 1 at the Italian ambassador's residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu. This year marks the third iteration of Italy at Frieze, which is part of the global art fair Frieze Seoul 2026, running from September 2 to 5.
This year's exhibition is curated by Valentina Bucci, who has worked in both Europe and Korea, and features a collaboration with renowned contemporary art galleries Massimo De Carlo and Mazzoleni. The works of Italian artist Andrea Francolino and Korean artist Lee Soo-kyung are on display.
Emilia Gatto, the Italian ambassador to Korea, emphasized the significance of the event in her speech, stating, "Italy at Frieze represents a friendly meeting between Korean and Italian art." Davide Scalmani, director of the Italian Cultural Institute, remarked, "Italian and Korean artists are moving in the same direction, which is a form of cultural diplomacy we cherish most."
Jung Hyang-mi, director of the Cultural and Arts Policy Office at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, noted that the bilateral relationship between Korea and Italy was elevated to a special strategic partnership in June. She affirmed the Korean government's commitment to expanding cultural exchanges across all fields, including the arts.
The theme of this year's Italy at Frieze, The Golden Trace, refers to the aesthetic and symbolic possibilities of 'crack' and 'gold,' viewed as a space for ethical reflection, change, regeneration, and cultural resonance. Featured works include Lee Soo-kyung's Translated Vase series, which uses gold to mend broken pottery, and Francolino's M series, created with broken concrete and gold.
Curator Bucci explained, "Gold in Korean means both 'gold' and 'crack' in objects. It is a trace of what has already happened and an open gap guiding us toward the future."
During the event, Ambassador Gatto awarded the 'Order of the Star of Italy' medal to Lee Jeong-hak, representative of Bulgari Korea, for his contributions to the development of Korea-Italy relations. Lee emphasized the historical significance of the 142nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Italy, stating, "I will strive to contribute to cultural exchanges between Korea and Italy."
Following the visits of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Korea in January and President Yoon Suk Yeol to Italy in June, the Italian Embassy in Korea has organized various friendly events.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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