젊은 작가 ‘붐’을 구동시키는 오퍼레이팅 시스템

The operating system for young generation artists ‘boom’

A countless number of group exhibitions of young artists have been held as though they dominated all the galleries and museums. The age group of successful artists in biennales, auctions and galleries has been getting younger. Since when and how have these young-blood artists, who would probably have only assisted the senior artists in the old days, been so ‘noble’? The answer to this question can be summarized as an international tendency after yBa that young artists are becoming part of the mainstream in contemporary art, great advance of alternative spaces in Korea and the young domestic art market made by second-generation galleries and emerging galleries. Recently, it is common to see artworks by young artists sold at a high price at auction. The number of young artists participating in art fairs at home and abroad is increasing. However, one of the young artists confessed that he regretted about the art fair experience. Even though his pieces were sold, he felt as if he sent them away to a new family, which thought him a lesson that he should rot sell his works rashly. Commercial temptation swaying young artists is quite serious. These days, even alternative spaces or university professors receive calls from the commercial galleries wanting to get to know young artists.. One professor, against the excessive approach of the market, said that the overabundance of young artists is a double-edged sword to both artists and the market and that university art education should keep the distance from the market especially in current situation. To immature artists, commercial activities within galleries, auctions, art fairs or whatever, can give them ‘money’ right away, but also can be ‘poison’ later. All people including artists, critics and even gallery people are concerned about the art market being overheated. Also, artists should be more careful \I\1t’en developing voluntary institutions. Such institutions are different from those small groups created for discussion and making of art which are evaluated as significant traces of Korean art, as in the way they formed. Focusing on business rather than the nature of creation might go with the trend but might shorten the lifespan of the artist.