DAF 2025 Review-A Journey Through Emotions at Seoul’s Design Art Fair🎨
Can art really change your mood in an instant?
That was the question on my mind as I entered DAF 2025 (Design Art Fair) at the Seoul Arts Center this April. What I found wasn’t just an art show—it was a walk through human emotion, color, and imagination.
📍 Event Overview
Exhibition: DAF 2025 – Design Art Fair
Date: April 6–16, 2025
Venue: Hangaram Design Museum & Exhibition Hall 7
Admission: KRW 15,000 (Adults) / KRW 10,000 (Discounted)
Opening Hours: 10 AM – 7 PM (Last admission at 6:30 PM)
Official Page: sac.or.kr
🧠 The First Encounter – KARP NIRBU
My experience began in a space called KARP NIRBU.
A minimalist setup with red-black contrasts and symbolic objects arranged in ritualistic order.
A square table filled with white pebbles and centerpieces—everything was staged with purpose, almost confrontational.
On the wall, a pair of red eyes stared at you. It wasn’t scary, but oddly… sentient.
That space didn’t need interpretation. It demanded reflection.
🧸 Cute, Yet Creepy – The Duality of “Soback”
Next, I was drawn to three bunny sculptures by Soback.
At first glance, they were adorable—brightly colored plush-like figures with stitched expressions.
But look closer, and you’ll notice red hearts bursting from their chests, and ❌ marks on their eyes.
Cute outside. Bleeding inside.
It perfectly captures the emotional duality we all live with, wrapped in playful form.
🎮 Bold Colors, Childhood Memories – The Retro Arcade Booth
Stepping into the next booth felt like falling into a video game.
Bold yellows, reds, and blues wrapped around arcade machines and canvases.
The characters had square heads, pixel faces, and bright smiles.
Everything screamed play, joy, and nostalgia.
It was the kind of space that makes you laugh without knowing why.
🐣 Silent Sculptures, Heavy Meaning
Further into the hall, I came across an installation filled with small gray pigeon sculptures, arranged in a spiral, surrounded by standing wire figures.
No artist statement, no title—just stillness.
And in that stillness, I found weight.
Sometimes, art doesn’t need words.
It speaks in absence.
🐇 Dreaming Zizi – Like a Fairytale Come Alive
Dreaming Zizi by artists Seo Ji-su & Seo Ji-woo was perhaps the most enchanting corner.
Whimsical rabbits in dandy outfits, circus queens, fantasy kings—all meticulously handcrafted into dolls and busts.
Each sculpture felt like a character with a backstory.
The whole section was like stepping into a pop-up book from your childhood dreams.
🟡 A Bit of Philosophy from "I Landed"
A yellow wall covered in simple comic panels caught my eye.
Minimalist ducks lounging on couches, asking “What if not?” or “Why rush?”
The series, called "I Landed", offers lazy-day philosophies wrapped in humor.
It was art that didn’t try too hard—and that’s why it stuck with me.
🐠 Happy Fish and Heartwarming Vibes
Fish POP by Hwang Jeonghee was a sweet surprise.
Rows of colorful fish illustrations with shiny scales, soft round eyes, and heart motifs.
Their eyes follow you gently, and each fish seems to whisper its own personality.
A perfect breather between emotionally heavy installations.
🐏 Soft Sculptures – Felted Comfort
Near the end of the fair, I met a fluffy alpaca-like sculpture made of felt.
It had a flower on its head and beads on its collar.
It wasn’t trying to be deep or intellectual. It just made people smile.
Sometimes that’s the most important job art can do.
🛒 Inspired? Here Are Some Art-Inspired Items for Your Space
If you felt moved by DAF 2025 and want to bring a piece of that emotion home, here are some curated picks that echo the show’s aesthetic:
These are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them—at no extra cost to you.
💭 Final Thoughts – Art That Connects
DAF 2025 wasn't about "understanding" art—it was about feeling it.
It welcomed everyone: art lovers, kids, couples, or just curious wanderers.
And through its color, silence, humor, and strangeness, it managed to do what good art always does—move you.
So if you’re in Seoul before April 16, don’t miss it.
Let yourself be surprised.
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