GLOBAL ENGLISH ART JOURNAL FROM KOREA

Dear readers!

It is my greatest pleasure to introduce to you the special pre-launch issue of art INASIA, a bimonthly English magazine, in this beautiful spring arriving with animated new life. After the release of this issue in time for the Korean International Art Fair (KIAF), we will be publishing our initial issue in June, around the time of the Venice Biennale.

These days, my heart thrills with excitement as I prepare the launch of our new magazine, much the same as it did back in 1999 when I was working to bring out the first issue of art in culture. I feel excitement running through me, like an athlete crouching at the starting line of a race.

We, art INASIA have created a truly global magazine. Transcending national boundaries to reach beyond Korean art to Asian art, we now advance further ahead to navigate our way around the boundless seas of the international art world. I am already in my 24th year as a journalist. I took my first step in art journalism in 1984 as an editor for Quarterly Art magazine Gyegan Misool published by media company JoongAng Ilbo, to be re-launched in 1989 as Monthly Art magazine Wolgan Misool.

Exactly a decade later, in 1999, I founded art in culture, the greatest change and challenge I had undertaken in my whole life. (Launching its supplement art Wa is another key achievement, project of linking art with culture). Since then, I have always harbored the vague dream of creating a Korean! English magazine for Asia around 2009, to fit in with my ten year pattern.

Today, that dream has come true much earlier than I could ever have hoped for. We began work on launching an English art journal from spring of last year, and many advisors in the art community fully agreed with us on the unequivocal need for an art magazine in English language, and its great potential value for the future.

The trend of Korean art going international as well as the vibrant energy in today's art market provided further impetus to the decision to launch art INASIA.

DYNAMIC POWER AND SPIRIT OF ASIAN ART

Today, we live in a world that is transforming at an incredibly rapid pace. It is no easy job keeping up with the speed of globalization and digitalization with the flow of international art undergoing a fast change.

As most of you are aware, Asian art has been making a giant leap forward in recent years, creating an Asian sensation in the international art world. I hope this 'Oriental Wind' blowing in the art world will usher in a new era of East influences going West, a welcome change from the West taking dominant lead over the East in the past. In this global age, art INASIA takes on the great responsibility of promoting art journals to become truly international.

The magazine aims to enhance the understanding of Asian fine arts and its true value, targeting the art communities around the globe. Taking major cities in Asia, such as Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo as its strategic footholds, art INASIA will strive to become a serious art publication that can take an independent approach in responding to the art of the United States and Europe. It is committed to discovering new issues and discourses in contemporary art by carefully monitoring the trends of international biennials and art fairs. It also plans to introduce new talented Asian artists gathering international fame as well as vibrant art scenes throughout Asia.

I trust our ability to run an excellent art journ already been proven both within Korea and overseas experience of publishing up to 100 issues of art in culture the past 8 years. We, art INASIA now carryon the pioneering spirit and aspirations to build a healthy and art culture of the new era, and the same mindset and a that never waver in pursuit of the right path. art INASIA the dynamic power and spirit of Asian art to the world, hope we will be able to welcome you into the art IN family.

Yours Sincerely

Bog-gi Kim