Getty, the Los Angeles-based cultural and philanthropic institution, and Frieze, the leading international contemporary art fair, have announced a new global partnership that will launch in September 2023 at Frieze Seoul and will culminate in September 2024 with the opening of PST ART: ‘Art & Science Collide’. The collaboration aims to raise awareness of the upcoming edition of PST ART, a Getty initiative that brings together museums and institutions across Southern California for one of the most expansive art events in the world.
PST ART (formerly Pacific Standard Time) is a series of thematic exhibitions that explore the connections between art and various aspects of society, culture, and history. The 2024 edition, titled ‘Art & Science Collide’, will feature more than 818 artists in more than 50 coordinated exhibitions, with project topics ranging from climate change, environmental justice and Indigenous knowledge to artificial intelligence, past and future cosmologies and the frontiers of bioengineering. The exhibitions will prompt civic dialogue around some of the most urgent issues of our time and showcase the diversity and creativity of Southern California’s art scene.
Ahead of the 2024 edition of PST ART, Getty and Frieze will work together on a year of activity to amplify the global initiative in key international art centres. The partnership reflects both organisations’ shared commitment to championing Southern California’s artists and institutions by providing a platform for international audiences to engage with the region’s rich cultural landscape.
A Series of Commissions and Events Across Seoul, London and Los Angeles
The partnership will kick off at Frieze Seoul, taking place September 6th to 9th at COEX, with a commission by Korean visual research collective ikkibawiKrrr. The collective will present a new video and interactive performance exploring the marine ecosystem and environmental sustainability that centers on the haenyeo: a community of female divers on Jeju Island who harvest seaweed and seafood for a living. The work takes as its starting point a saying that exists among the haenyeo community — ‘diving is with companion’ — signifying togetherness with each other and with the sea, including its marine creatures and mythical stories. In the creation of the video work, ikkibawiKrrr worked closely with the haenyeo, who are an indelible part of the island’s identity.
The collaboration will then move to Frieze London, taking place October 5th to 8th at Regent’s Park, with the debut of a new work by Los Angeles-based interdisciplinary artist Candice Lin. Lin’s practice examines the intersections of colonialism, gender, race, and nature through a variety of media, including sculpture, installation, video, and drawing. Her new work for Frieze London will be inspired by her research on historical botanical gardens and their role in shaping scientific knowledge and global trade. Lin will also participate in PST ART: ‘Art & Science Collide’ with a solo exhibition at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.
The partnership will culminate with the opening of PST ART: ‘Art & Science Collide’ in September 2024 across various venues in Southern California. Frieze Los Angeles, which will coincide with the opening weekend of PST ART, will offer visitors a curated program of talks, screenings, performances, and special projects that will highlight the themes and artists of PST ART. Frieze Los Angeles will also collaborate with Getty on a series of VIP events and tours that will showcase the best of Los Angeles’ art scene.
A Unique Opportunity to Celebrate Art and Science
Getty and Frieze hope that their partnership will create a unique opportunity to celebrate the connections between art and science and to foster cross-cultural dialogue and exchange. James Cuno, president and CEO of Getty said: “We are delighted to partner with Frieze on this exciting initiative that will bring attention to Southern California’s vibrant art community and to the groundbreaking exhibitions that will be part of PST ART: ‘Art & Science Collide’. We look forward to working with Frieze to create memorable experiences for art lovers around the world.”
Victoria Siddall, global director of Frieze fairs said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Getty on this global partnership that will span three continents and three editions of Frieze fairs. Getty is an incredible institution that shares our vision of supporting artists and institutions in Southern California and beyond. We are honored to be part of their ambitious project PST ART: ‘Art & Science Collide’ and to showcase some of the amazing artists who will be involved in it.”
