Two curatorial teams have won the Hyundai Blue Prize+ 2025, an award organized by Hyundai Motor Company to support curators addressing contemporary issues in an Asian context. The winners are Hyejin and Yoonyoung Park, a Seoul-based duo whose proposal examines AI's reliance on natural resources and labor, and Yifeng Wei and Penny Dan Xu, based in Dublin and London, who invite viewers to reimagine the future of modern technology. Selected from over 160 proposals, the teams participated in a mentorship program and research trip before being chosen by an international jury. Their exhibitions will be held at Hyundai Motorstudio Beijing between mid-2026 and early 2027, with each receiving 800,000 RMB (about $110,000) for production costs.
This prize matters because it highlights the growing role of curators as critical thinkers and cultural producers in the art world, particularly in relation to technology and Asia. By funding ambitious, research-driven exhibitions and providing mentorship from leading museum professionals, the Hyundai Blue Prize+ supports emerging curatorial voices and fosters cross-cultural dialogue. The award also reflects the increasing investment by corporations like Hyundai in contemporary art infrastructure, positioning the Motorstudio as a platform for experimental, socially engaged exhibitions that challenge audiences to reflect on urgent global issues.