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Mek Gallery 20th Annual Special Exhibition 《10-200, Happy Painting Exhibition》

Name: Mek Gallery 20th Annual Special Exhibition 《10-200, Happy Painting Exhibition》
Start: 2026-07-18
End: 2026-08-22
Location: Gallery Mac

Free · Haeundae-gu Gallery Mac

Dates: Jul 18 ~ Aug 22
Venue: Gallery Mac
Area: Busan Haeundae-gu
Price: Free
Enquiries: 051-722-2201

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About this event

The 20th anniversary of Mek Gallery's annual special exhibition 《10-200, Happy Painting Exhibition》, the 'beginning of art collection' that has continued for 20 years. Mek Gallery in Haeundae, Busan, will hold the 《10-200, Happy Painting Exhibition》 from July 18 to August 22. Celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year, this exhibition is Mek Gallery's representative summer annual special exhibition that has continued without missing a single year since its start in 2007. Under the banner of 'democratization of art collection' and 'lowering the gallery threshold', it has been loved by many artists and collectors for 20 years. First started in 2007 under the name of 《Happy Painting Exhibition in the 100,000 Won Range》, the exhibition began as a one-time project showcasing about 80 works by 40 artists. However, with the steady participation of artists who agreed with the purpose of allowing more people to comfortably own good works without burden, and with the support of visitors, the scale has grown year by year, and it has now established itself as an annual special exhibition that collectors nationwide look forward to in the summer. The 20 years of time recorded not only the exhibition but also the growth of the participating artists. New and young artists who participated in the early exhibitions have grown into mid-career artists representing the Korean art world, and those who viewed this exhibition as students have returned as artists to participate in the exhibition as time passed. One year's exhibition became the next year's connection, and one artist's participation introduced another, making 《10-200, Happy Painting Exhibition》 a living archive built together by artists, collectors, and the gallery. Looking at the list of participants from the 1st to the 20th runs, a total of 448 artists have participated in the exhibition so far, with 1,580 cumulative participations over 20 runs, and the cumulative number of exhibited works reaching approximately 3,860. In 2026, 61 artists, ranging from emerging, young, mid-career, senior, to deceased artists, will participate in the exhibition, presenting about 200 works in various genres including painting, sculpture, photography, and printmaking. Participating artists range from the deceased Kim Jeom-seon and Sung Baek-joo, to Bang Jeong-a (selected for the 2021 National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art 'Artist of the Year'), Gam Min-kyung (who received great attention in the art world through her participation in the 2022 Busan Biennale), Kim Eun-ju (who has worked with a single pencil for nearly 40 years and exhibited at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Busan Museum of Art, Gwangju Museum of Art, etc.), and Son Mong-joo (who has presented site-specific installation works at the 2018 Gwangju Biennale and the 2023 Sea Art Festival of the Busan Biennale). Visitors can also find works by active mid-career artists such as Kang Hye-eun, Kim Seop, Shin Chul, Shin Hong-jik, Ahn Yun-mo, Jo Hyun-seo, and Heo Moon-hee, as well as young artists like Kim Seoul, Kim Hyun-su, Kim Hyo-eun, Park Jin-sung, Lim Seung-hyun, Jang Geon-yul, Choi Rye, and Tae Woo, all at reasonable prices under 2 million won. Requesting active artists, especially mid-career and senior artists whose usual price ranges do not match, to submit works within the price limit of 2 million won is by no means an easy task. Nevertheless, many artists agree with the purpose of the exhibition and participate by specially preparing small pieces or submitting works at prices lower than their existing rates. Thanks to the artists who join the philosophy of 'introducing good works to more people', this exhibition has been able to continue for twenty years. Even 20 years ago, collecting art was considered a privilege of only a few collectors. Today, however, choosing a piece that suits one's space and living daily life with that work has become a natural culture for many people. Growing alongside these changes, 《10-200, Happy Painting Exhibition》 has consistently practiced its original purpose of 'bringing good works to more people'. This exhibition is also where many people's 'first collection' began. The age range of visitors who visit the gallery and buy paintings freely is diverse, from young people in their 20s just starting their social lives, to family units visiting with children, and seniors in their 60s and 70s who visit to gift works to their children or grandchildren who are getting married. The faces of everyone viewing the exhibition are full of excitement and happiness. Seeing them, one can feel that 'lowering the gallery threshold' and 'democratization of art collection', which were the planning intentions of the first '10-200, Happy Painting Exhibition' in 2007, are indeed being realized. Mek Gallery Director Jang Young-ho, who has led twenty exhibitions, said, "《10-200, Happy Painting Exhibition》 is not just an exhibition that sells reasonably priced works. It is a project that has built the possibility of art staying close to daily life for 20 years," adding, "I hope this twentieth exhibition will also be an opportunity for more people to meet works that suit their tastes and experience the joy of owning art." The 20th Mek Gallery Annual Special Exhibition 《10-200, Happy Painting Exhibition》 will be held from July 18 to August 22 at Mek Gallery in Haeundae, Busan, and viewing and purchasing works are possible without separate reservations. In the exhibition hall, you can also look through archive materials containing the list of artists who have submitted works over the past 20 runs.

Location

Haeundae-gu Gallery Mac

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