The Seoul Performing Arts Festival (SPAF) has returned with a curatorial focus that challenges conventional expectations of beauty. Taking place from Oct. 16 to Nov. 9, the 2025 edition presents 22 pieces spanning theater, dance, and interdisciplinary work. Under the theme “Entanglement and Friction,” the festival explores how complexity, contradiction, and tension can be sources of artistic expression and renewal.
The concept is inspired by Korean-German philosopher Han Byung-chul’s critique of modern society’s obsession with smoothness and perfection. In his book “Saving Beauty,” Han argues that cultural experiences have become overly polished, uniform, and consumable. He believes that true beauty is found not in flawlessness, but in disruption, imperfection, and resistance. SPAF 2025 takes this insight to curate a program that invites both artists and audiences to reconsider how we define aesthetic value.
This year’s program is built around several thematic pillars. These include the shifting relationship between art, science, and digital technology; the expansion of sound and experimental music into new forms of performance; and the reinvention of contemporary dance through a collaboration with contemporary movement festival Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels. The festival also features voices from across the Asia-Pacific region, whose works reflect diverse approaches to contemporary social, political, and cultural issues.
Beyond the stage, SPAF offers a range of participatory programs. Workshops, masterclasses, and collaborative creation labs are designed to promote dialogue between emerging and established artists, as well as between performers and audiences.
In an age when much of the cultural landscape favors clarity and resolution, SPAF 2025 leans into complexity and nuance. Its performances resist simplicity, opening space for a richer exploration of beauty in layered and unexpected forms.
Sean Jung R&D Division Director teen/1760591740/1613367716
1. What does Han Byung-chul argue about modern society’s obsession with smoothness and perfection?
2. How does SPAF 2025 reflect Han’s ideas in its program?
3. What thematic pillars are emphasized in this year’s program?
4. Which festival collaborates with SPAF for contemporary dance performances?
1. If you could participate in a workshop or masterclass at SPAF, which one would you choose?
2. What part of Han Byung-chul’s idea that “true beauty is found in disruption” resonates with you?
3. Would you enjoy performances that combine art, science, and digital technology, and why or why not?
4. If you could meet one of the artists or curators, what would you ask them?
The Seoul Performing Arts Festival (SPAF) has returned with a curatorial focus that challenges conventional expectations of beauty. Taking place from Oct. 16 to Nov. 9, the 2025 edition presents 22 pieces spanning theater, dance, and interdisciplinary work. Under the theme “Entanglement and Friction,” the festival explores how complexity, contradiction, and tension can be sources of artistic expression and renewal.
