Artcube 2R2 Concludes Tokyo Gendai 2026, Showcases Works by Choi Young Wook and Ha Taeim

Artcube 2R2, a gallery operated by blockchain-based art platform Art Token, said on Sept. 23 that it had successfully concluded its participation in Tokyo Gendai 2026, an international art fair recently held in Yokohama, Japan.

A total of 69 galleries took part in Tokyo Gendai 2026, which was held this month at Pacifico Yokohama. Organizers said collectors and art industry figures from more than 52 countries visited the event.

Artcube 2R2 operated a joint booth with TAOS GALLERY TOKYO, presenting works by Korean and Japanese artists together. The Korean artists were Choi Young Wook and Ha Taeim, while the Japanese artists were MIKITYPE and Kyojiro Kito.

Choi presented works from his Karma series, a contemporary reinterpretation of the aesthetics of Korea's moon jars. His works are held in major overseas collections including the Gates Foundation and the Spanish royal family.

Artcube 2R2 said the event introduced the sculptural beauty of moon jars and the contemporary potential of Korean aesthetics to the international art market. An Artcube 2R2 official described Karma as a work that expands a traditional subject into contemporary painting through restrained forms and delicate lines layered across the canvas. The series drew interest from local visitors and overseas collectors.

Ha Taeim exhibited works marked by striking color and composition. Artcube 2R2 said the artist's contemporary use of color left a strong impression on local visitors and demonstrated the diverse modes of expression in Korean contemporary art.

TAOS GALLERY TOKYO presented works by MIKITYPE, who explores the relationship between text and image through typography, and by abstract painter Kyojiro Kito, who has spent about 40 years studying the relationship among color, form and pictorial space.

By placing Korean and Japanese artists in the same space, the two galleries highlighted differing aesthetic approaches and possibilities in the two countries' contemporary art. Artcube 2R2 said the joint booth was meaningful in that it drew on each gallery's artist network and exhibition experience to introduce artists from both countries together on the international art stage.

Artcube 2R2 said the event allowed it to directly introduce works by Korean artists to the international art market, including Japan, while expanding its contact with overseas collectors and art industry figures. It plans to continue collaborating with TAOS GALLERY TOKYO through exhibitions, international art fairs and artist exchanges.

Hong Ji-sook, chief executive of Art Token and Artcube 2R2, said the company confirmed strong interest in works by Korean artists even among Japanese collectors, who tend to be cautious in acquiring art. She added that she directly felt growing attention to Korean contemporary art from collectors and art industry figures from around the world.

Hong also said operating a joint booth with TAOS GALLERY TOKYO confirmed the potential to develop exchanges between galleries in the two countries into practical collaboration. The company plans to expand cooperation with overseas galleries and institutions, as well as participation in international art fairs, to create more opportunities for Korean artists to reach broader audiences and collectors.

Artcube 2R2 said it will continue introducing works by contemporary artists through domestic and overseas exhibitions and international art fairs. It also plans to keep collaborating with overseas galleries and artists to broaden the connection between Korean art and the global market.