How Mayfly brings together independent Seoul artists.

Written by Alexandra Josephine (@ohmygoditsalex)
Photos by Chewy Thompson (@flotationmarks)

One of Seoul’s independent art staples is Mayfly. Bringing together artists from all over the world, from every different kind of medium, the regular event hopes to highlight artists that often find themselves outside of the gallery-system. Here, we talk to the organiser and some of the artists particiapting in their recent exhibition.

In 2015, Soo Hye Baik, known by her artist name Miss Baik, returned from studying abroad in London, ready to show her artistic talent and share her love of creativity, only to find that the Korean art scene has more rules than anticipated.

"There are qualifications needed when applying [for exhibitions]…" she tells me, sitting outside her studio. "I wanted to have no barriers for anyone who wants to be an artist and show their work."

So she started Mayfly, an independent art exhibition for anyone who wishes to exhibit their work. That first year, after putting out a call for artists, 10 people applied and had their art exhibited. Mayfly has since grown into a community event and continued with multiple shows a year, the latest of which was Saturday, April 1st.

"One of my friends told me about Mayfly and knew I wanted to join," says SUNOK, a watercolourist and sculptor who grew up in Australia. "Mayfly is a well-known exhibit that brings a lot of different people together."

Applying to Mayfly is open for both foreign and Korean artists of all different mediums. "We have musicians, performance art, video art, and photography," Miss Baik says.

The April 1st Mayfly Exhibition showcased more than ten artists and their work, including some of Miss Baik's own experiments with watercolour on fabric and embroidery rings.

"I did not go to school for art," says Antonia Giordano, a teacher and freelance photographer here in Seoul. Mayfly offers her a place to return to her roots in painting and find a community with which she can share that love. Most artists in this exhibition, while not trained in art like Miss Baik, have told me that art has been a constant for them throughout their lives.

Speaking with me after the exhibition, Lynn Kim (김예인) says, "I've always loved to draw since I was a kid. After I quit my job in late 2021, I started doing art regularly again. Now, I want to prioritise my creative practice."

For many creatives, art offers not only a creative outlet but also a safe place to explore your emotions. This is true for artist Kayla Marie, who spoke with me in front of her emotional acrylic, Lost.

"For this piece," she tells us, "I was really beaten down, mentally. I had lost so much of who I was at the time. It left me feeling empty. That kind of sparked this idea."

For visual artist and model, Sol Valdovinos, this exhibition gave her space to grieve and find closure after the death of loved ones.

"My piece is called Move to Heaven because it was a form of grieving for me. The part left behind by my love for the ones who passed away had to move on to heaven."

For the artist known only as "Author", Mayfly offered a place to try visual art for the first time. "I've never made art before, but I went home one night and thought, it's time to make art!"

Mayfly's exhibitions are one night only, but the emotions elicited by the work last much longer.

The next Mayfly exhibition is scheduled for May, with an open call for artists who wish to participate. No experience is required—only love for all things art.

As Miss Baik says, "I want Mayfly to act as motivation for other artists. I want them to have somewhere to show their work."

For more information on Mayfly, go here.