POISE AND PUNCHLINE presents a polyphonic exploration of contemporary Korean aesthetics through seven distinct artistic voices, each a master of their own narrative. The exhibition responds to the 61st La Biennale di Venezia’s overarching theme, In Minor Keys, by examining the interplay between Gyeok-jo (dignified restraint) and Hae-hak (subversive wit). Exploring the “K-Core”—a deep-rooted philosophical foundation of Korean art, the resilient, lower-frequency philosophies that underpin Korean creative persistence—the featured artists, working across sculpture, installation, and painting, demonstrate how humor and refinement are not opposites but unified tools for social critique and emotional resonance. These South Korean artists maintain a sovereign poise while delivering a punchline that is a vital challenge and contribution to the discourse of global contemporary art.