The region’s largest contemporary retail art fair, World Art Dubai (WAD),will return for its ninth edition at Dubai World Trade Centre from Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 March 2023 with its WAD Around the World programme with South Korea as its Country of Honour. The fair’s popular Around the World series will shine a spotlight on South Korea’s exciting art scene and give WAD guests the opportunity to discover and immerse themselves in the South Korean culture and art scene that is accelerating the country’s global art presence.

A feature of the show that has been designed to celebrate the art and culture of a different country, WAD Around the World will seeWAD partner with the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Dubai to showcase an amazing programme of K-culture that will include 100 artists displaying diverse artworks, an array of live and traditional performances and modern trends from the Korean culture.

Asma Al Sharif, Assistant Vice President at Exhibitions, Dubai World Trade Centre, commented: “We are so happy to be bringing back WAD Around the World for a second year as this feature of the show really brings to life the whole concept of WAD –where the world’s art comes together. This year we are excited to be celebrating South Korea’s vibrant art scene, as well as its wonderful history and culture.”

At WAD’s invite-only VIP evening, the South Korea and the Korean Culture Association will present a Hanbok Fashion Showwithtraditional hanboks that have been created for popular K-dram as such as Reborn Rich, Under The Queen’s Umbrella, 100 Days My Prince, Flower Crew:Joseon Marriage Agency and Crash Landing on You, by famous Korean designers that include Ms Ham Eujeong, Ms Shin Aesoo, Ms Choi Sukheon and Ms Lee Eunjin, who also designed hanboks especially for dignitaries who have visited Korea that include the President of the United States of America, the King of Belgium, the President of Egypt, the President of Latvia, the President of Costa Rica and the President of Vietnam.

This year’s visitor programme will feature a Mother of Pearl Workshop that will run throughout day two of the show, a Painting Perfection Performance by artist Hyerin Ryu from K-Art Korea and a Korean Tea Ceremony on the WAD Main Stage by K-Art Korea.Art Busan is also bringing 100 artists to the four-day fair who will present a range of art from NFTs to oil paintings.

H.E. Moon Byung Jun, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Dubai, commented:“We are very excited about this collaboration with World Art Dubai 2023, as for the first time ever Korea is the guest of honour represented by a wide array of unique artists that will represent Korea with 100paintings in this year’s edition of WAD in order to showcase the Korean Art scene through different art forms like Korean Traditional Hanbok fashion show, painting, tea tasting ceremony and a variety of cultural performances.”

He added: “We appreciate World Art Dubai’s immense efforts to give Korean artists this platform to shed light on the beautiful and rich Korean artistic scene and spread awareness about it throughout the UAE and MENA Region. We look forward to future collaborations with Dubai World Trade Centre and WAD to promote the Korean Arts throughout the Arab World.”

Renowned for uniting more than 300 local and international exhibitors from more than 60 countries, this year’s WAD will showcase diverse, accessible and original art all under one roof, from emerging artists to established talent. As well as being able to browse more than 4,000 artworks, art lovers and creatives of all ages will have the chance to immerse themselves in a non-stop schedule of experiential art activations and engaging live art performances at the four-day art fair, as well as curated art talks and workshops, making WAD 2023 a truly unmissable highlight in the Dubai arts season calendar.

Tickets are now on sale for the ninth edition of WAD. For more information and to buy tickets please visit www.worldartdubai.com/home