\u201cSpectrosynthesis Seoul\u201d, a large exhibition of 74 artists and artist groups, opened on March 20 at Art Sonje Centre. Dedicated to exploring LGBTQ themes and celebrating queer artists, it is the first large-scale exhibition of its kind in South Korea.<\/p>\n
Patrick Sun, the Hong Kong-born founder of the Sunpride Foundation and the collector who initiated the \u201cSpectrosynthesis\u201d project, says this edition stands apart from previous shows in Taipei, Bangkok and Hong Kong. He explains that the immense energy and backing from South Korea\u2019s younger queer artists feels particularly powerful given the country\u2019s comparatively traditional and rigid social landscape.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was coming here with some reservations,\u201d says Sun, who came out as gay in the 1970s. \u201cPeople may think Korea is very conservative, and yes, that may be true in some ways, but there\u2019s also a thriving gay scene, and I\u2019m especially appreciative of all our young artists who are very brave and willing to step out to have their voice heard.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Installation](\"https:\/\/img.i-scmp.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto\/sites\/default\/files\/d8\/images\/canvas\/2026\/03\/30\/dcfa652f-ed5e-47ec-8d66-8a712288d696_49ae9049.jpg\" "\\"Installation")
<\/div>The show was curated by Art Sonje Centre\u2019s artistic director, Sun-jung Kim, and Yong-woo Lee, who teaches cultural studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Kim says contemporary art is often provocative, and compares this show with New York\u2019s 1993 Whitney Biennial, where she recalls the censorship of Barbara Hammer\u2019s \u201cnotoriously\u201d provocative work.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been seeing so much good change,\u201d Kim says. \u201cThe new generation is very open about themselves and their identity.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n