The Sovereign Art Foundation in Hong Kong has announced that Korean artist Yujung Kim (b. 1974) has been selected as the recipient of the ‘Vogue Women’s Prize,’ a special award within the ‘Sovereign Asian Art Prize 2025.’

Established in 2004, the Sovereign Asian Art Prize is an internationally recognized award presented annually to artists active in 15 Asian countries. The prize consists of three categories: the Grand Prize, the Special Prize, and the Public Prize. The ‘Vogue Women’s Prize,’ which Kim received, is awarded to the highest-scoring female artist among those who did not win the Grand Prize. 

Previous Korean winners include Debbie Han (Grand Prize, 2009), Joung-Mi Yoon (Grand Prize, 2011), and Woo Chongil (Public Prize, 2013). With Yujung Kim’s special award this year, a Korean artist has once again made it onto the list of winners after 12 years.

Yujung Kim has been developing works that reinterpret the traditional fresco technique—historically used in Western medieval mural painting—in a contemporary context. Her award-winning piece, Island Swallowing the Moon, Floating Day (2024), was also completed using the fresco technique, in which images are painted onto wet plaster, along with a surface-scraping method to create texture.

This work draws inspiration from the survival strategies of plants, which constantly adapt to changing environments as they transition from growth to maturity. Through this, Kim metaphorically reflects the experiences of individuals navigating society. 

Kim expressed her gratitude, stating, “This award is a great encouragement and a source of strength for me to move forward. I will continue to communicate with the world through art and strive to share more stories.”

References

• 경인일보, 인천 작가 김유정 ‘소버린 아시아 미술상’ 특별상, 2025.03.25 
• The 2025 Sovereign Asian Art Prize
• 인천문화통신 3.0, 김유정 - 유대하는 생의 기록