UAE Art Exhibition ‘PROXIMITIES’ Opens in South Korea

Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, inaugurated the exhibition ‘PROXIMITIES’ in Seoul, South Korea, showcasing contemporary art from the United Arab Emirates. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF) in partnership with the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA), this is the first presentation of Emirati art in South Korea and East Asia. The exhibition will run until 29th March 2026 and forms part of a long-term cultural partnership to promote artistic exchange and dialogue between the two nations.

The opening was attended by prominent figures, including Kim Hea Kyung, First Lady of South Korea; Chae Hwi-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, founder of ADMAF; Abdulla Saif Ali Slayem AlNuaimi, UAE Ambassador to South Korea; Choi Eun-ju, Director-General of SeMA; and Kim Tae-kyun, First Deputy Mayor of Seoul. The presence of these dignitaries highlights the importance of cultural collaboration between the UAE and South Korea.

This is the largest exhibition in South Korea dedicated to contemporary Emirati art, featuring around 110 artworks by 47 male and female artists from three generations. The artworks trace the development of Emirati art since the 1980s, showing how artists have explored creative themes over the decades.

The exhibition includes works by pioneering, contemporary, and emerging Emirati artists. Their art reflects local and global human themes, including identity, memory, time, the body, nature, and social relationships. Visitors can experience the diversity of artistic practices that have shaped the UAE’s visual arts scene.

‘PROXIMITIES’ continues a series of collaborative projects between SeMA and ADMAF that started in 2024. It aims to create a strong model for international cultural cooperation, promoting Emirati art worldwide and opening opportunities for dialogue among artists, curators, and audiences from different cultures.

The exhibition not only highlights the UAE’s vibrant art scene but also strengthens cultural understanding and exchange between the UAE and South Korea, offering audiences a rare chance to explore contemporary Emirati creativity in depth.