Devesa has awarded its Acquisition Prize at Art Madrid 2026 to the Korean artist Kim Han-Ki, whose work will become part of the firm’s private collection.
The award was presented during the 21st edition of the Art Madrid fair, held at the Crystal Gallery of Cibeles Palace, one of the key events of Madrid Art Week.
The prize-winning work, from the collection of the South Korean gallery Banditrazos Gallery, stands out for its ability to fuse art, science and technology, translating technical and scientific concepts into a contemporary visual language. Through a complex symbolic network, the artist explores themes such as digital memory, technological obsolescence and the relationship between human beings and the devices they use.
Art, science and technology in artistic language
Kim Han-Ki (1974, Korea) is a semiconductor engineer and professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU). After more than fifteen years in the scientific field and over 300 articles indexed in the Science Citation Index (SCI), he began his artistic career in 2019.
His work is characterised by the integration of mathematical equations, technological references, cultural symbols and elements of digital culture within narrative visual compositions that connect art and scientific knowledge. The artist himself defines his approach as a way of expressing science and technology through the language of art, allowing complex concepts to become accessible from an emotional and humanistic perspective.
His pieces blend references to artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum mechanics and crypto culture with literary quotations and allusions to ancient civilisations. This combination creates a visual narrative that invites reflection on identity, memory and consumer culture in the digital age.
An award that reinforces Devesa’s commitment to contemporary art
The Devesa Acquisition Prize aims to recognise significant artistic proposals within the contemporary art scene and to promote dialogue between the legal world, collecting and the wider cultural ecosystem.
The winning work will become part of the firm’s private collection, which brings together pieces by contemporary artists and reflects Devesa’s commitment to promoting art and supporting creative talent.
Devesa’s participation in Art Madrid 2026 forms part of the firm’s strategic commitment to providing specialised legal advice in the art market, aimed at collectors, artists, galleries, foundations and artistic estates.
In a context in which art is increasingly consolidated as a cultural and heritage asset of significant value, specialised legal and tax advice is essential to guarantee legal certainty, the proper structuring of assets and the orderly transfer of collections.
Art Madrid, a key event in contemporary art
With more than two decades of history, Art Madrid has established itself as one of the most prominent art fairs in Spain. Its 21st edition brought together 35 national and international galleries, presenting a wide selection of emerging and established artists.
The fair continues to consolidate its position as a meeting point for galleries, artists, collectors, institutions and professionals in the sector, contributing to the development of the contemporary art market and the dissemination of new creative trends.
With the awarding of this prize, Devesa reaffirms its commitment to contemporary art and to the development of a cultural ecosystem in which creativity, heritage and specialised legal advice increasingly coexist.
