Largest Korean Contemporary Art Exhibition in GCC Opens in Abu Dhabi

The largest contemporary art exhibition from Korea in the Gulf Cooperation Council, titled Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits, has launched at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi. Showcasing 48 pieces by 28 Korean artists spanning from the 1960s to the present, this exhibition features works from the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) collection, many of which are being displayed in the UAE for the first time. Co-curated by Kyung-hwan Yeo from SeMA and Maya El Khalil from ADMAF, it delves into the progression of Korea's avant-garde art. Notable artists include Nam June Paik and Lee Bul, with pieces like Paik's Self-Portrait Dharma Wheel (1998) and Ayoung Kim's Delivery Dancer Simulation (2022). Additionally, the second exhibition, Intense Proximities, is set to open at SeMA in Seoul from 16 December 2025 to 22 February 2026.