Daniel Arsham to Direct Whiskey-Inspired Performances at Frieze Seoul 2026
Daniel Arsham, an artist, has collaborated with The Balvenie, a Scottish distillery, to launch a whiskey collection named “Dawn of Our Spirit,” set to premiere on September 1st in conjunction with Frieze Seoul. The unveiling will feature an immersive performance directed by Arsham, inspired by the meditative act of malting barley—a vital phase in whiskey making. Arsham explored The Balvenie’s malting floor in Speyside, Scotland, which has not changed since its establishment around 1931. He shared his admiration for the distillery's rich materials, including barley, copper stills, and wooden casks, along with their evocative scents and sounds. Kelsey McKechnie, The Balvenie’s malt master, called the collection “a true celebration of master craftsmanship.”
Key facts
- Daniel Arsham collaborated with The Balvenie on a whiskey collection titled 'Dawn of Our Spirit'.
- The collection will be unveiled on September 1st in partnership with Frieze Seoul.
- An immersive, sensorial performance directed by Arsham will introduce the collection.
- The performance draws on the meditative process of turning barley grain on a malting floor.
- Arsham visited The Balvenie's malting floor in Speyside, Scotland, which opened around 1931 and remains unchanged.
- Arsham cited the distillery's material richness: barley grain, copper stills, wooden casks, scents, and sounds.
- The Balvenie's malt master Kelsey McKechnie conceived the collection and called it 'a true celebration of master craftsmanship'.
- The collaboration will be featured during Frieze Seoul 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Daniel Arsham
- Kelsey McKechnie
Institutions
- The Balvenie
- Frieze Seoul
Locations
- Speyside
- Scotland
- Seoul
- South Korea
Sources
- Artsy —