South Korean artist Choi Sang Chul, in his late 70s, held the opening of his exhibition 'Mumool' at Baik Art gallery in Jakarta, Indonesia, on March 20, 2025. The event drew a crowd of wealthy local art patrons, and several of his works were sold before the ceremony ended. Choi, who earned a BFA from Seoul National University and has rejected artistic trends since the 1970s, uses unconventional methods like stones instead of brushes to create his pieces. His work initially received a tepid response at Art Jakarta in 2023, but interest has since grown.
This exhibition reflects a broader wave of Korean cultural influence in Indonesia, which is emerging as a hotspot for contemporary art. Korean galleries have been actively entering Indonesia's thriving art market, supported by a surge of affluent local collectors like Evelyn Halim, Wiyu Wahono, and Abigail Hakim. The trend highlights Southeast Asia's potential as a high-growth art market, with global galleries and auction houses using Singapore as a base to expand into the region.