Ryan Gander's 'The Find Seoul' Scatters 16,000 Coins Across Seoul for Frieze Seoul

British artist Ryan Gander has launched 'The Find Seoul,' a citywide public art project for Frieze Seoul's LIVE Program, hiding 16,000 collectible coins across the South Korean capital. The project, which began in 2023 with a commission by Factory International for the Manchester International Festival, has previously been staged in Cáceres, Spain, and Okayama, Japan. For the Seoul edition, coins are hidden in plain sight in the neighborhoods of Euljiro, Hannam, Cheongdam, and Samcheong, as well as in publicly accessible areas of COEX, the convention center in Gangnam district hosting Frieze Seoul. The coins, embossed with words like Listen, Solo, Pause, Speak, and Together, are free for finders to keep or pass along, encouraging an alternative form of exchange based on observation and chance. The project aims to draw residents and visitors into unfamiliar parts of Seoul, transforming the city into a living artwork. New coins will appear through September 10, and participants are encouraged to share their discoveries using #TheFindSeoul. Gander, known for using everyday objects in his work, sees the coins as decision-making tools, a universal function that transcends their monetary value. The project is part of Frieze Seoul's broader programming, which also includes a preview of emerging voices in the art world.