Historic UAE Art Exhibition Draws 75,000 in Seoul

The Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF), in collaboration with the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA), has successfully concluded Proximities, a landmark exhibition showcasing contemporary art from the UAE in South Korea.

Held in Seoul from December 15, 2025, to March 29, 2026, the exhibition attracted over 75,000 visitors, marking the largest presentation of UAE contemporary visual art ever staged in Korea and East Asia.

A Major Cultural Milestone

Part of the Abu Dhabi Festival’s Abroad Programme, Proximities featured more than 110 artworks by 47 UAE-based artists, including 33 Emirati creators. The exhibition highlighted five decades of artistic evolution, presenting diverse perspectives that bridge tradition and modernity.

This initiative represents the second chapter of a strategic partnership between ADMAF and SeMA. The first exhibition, Layered Medium: We Are in Open Circuits, was held at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi in 2025, focusing on Korean media-based art practices.

Strengthening UAE–Korea Cultural Ties

Together, both exhibitions and their public programmes attracted global audiences, reinforcing cultural exchange and fostering deeper engagement between the UAE and South Korea’s art communities.

Her Excellency Huda Al Khamis-Kanoo, Founder of ADMAF and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, described Proximities as a significant milestone in strengthening cultural dialogue. She emphasized that the exhibition created a platform for meaningful artistic exchange, connecting heritage with future visions.

Publications Mark Lasting Collaboration

To conclude the collaboration, two joint publications were launched in March 2026:

• Layered Dialogues: We Are in Open Circuits

• Layered Dialogues: Proximities

Curated by Maya El Khalil and Eunju Kim, these catalogues document both exhibitions, featuring essays, visual documentation, and critical insights from artists and writers across both regions.

The publications serve as a lasting archive of the collaboration, capturing the exchange of ideas and offering readers multiple interpretive perspectives.

A Platform for Dialogue and Exchange

Curators highlighted that the project was driven by curiosity and openness, encouraging dialogue across cultures without predefined narratives. The exhibitions and publications together created a dynamic platform for mutual understanding and artistic exploration.

Through this collaboration with SeMA, ADMAF reaffirms the UAE’s commitment to global cultural engagement. The initiative not only showcased Emirati artistic talent but also strengthened people-to-people connections through creativity, knowledge, and shared cultural values.