Ha Chong-Hyun (b. 1935) is a prominent figure in the Dansaekhwa movement, which is often characterized by Korean monochrome painting. This movement distinguishes itself from Western abstract minimalism through its research of the formal structure of the picture plane and incorporation of East Asian spirituality.
Pivotal within Dansaekhwa, Ha has been associated with various artistic styles throughout his career, from Art Informel in the 1950s and geometric abstraction in the late ’60s, to experimental object-based works in the early ’70s. Ha is perhaps best-known for his “Conjunction” series, which he started in the mid-1970s and continues today alongside his “Post-Conjunction” series. Throughout his work, Ha has consistently explored the properties and possibilities of materials, while in dialogue with the broader concerns and discourses of the Korean art scene of his time.
In 1969, Ha co-founded the Korean Avant-Garde Association (AG), which included artists and critics in their thirties who sought to generate a new formative direction for Korean art under the banner of avant-garde. The association published a periodical and held group exhibitions. During this time, Ha challenged conventional views on mediums, and fostered dynamic interactions between different materials by incorporating objects like barbed wire and springs into his works.
Ha’s experimentation with materials continued even after his return to canvas in the mid-1970s. In 1974, he began his “Conjunction” series, in which he pushes thick oil paint from the reverse side of a plain, woven-hemp canvas. Unlike other contemporary works that emphasize flatness, Ha’s paintings, as noted by art critic Nakahara Yusuke, expand space outwards in a direction perpendicular to the canvas.[1] At the same time, the artist harmoniously unites paint with burlap by allowing the paint to penetrate through the coarse weave of the burlap. Thus, the “Conjunction” series can be understood less as traditional painting and more as an extension of his object-based practice’s strong emphasis on materiality. As critic Lee Yil pointed out, Ha’s canvas works should be viewed as “flattened objects.”[2] During the mid- to late 1970s, Ha primarily worked with paint and the natural color of hemp cloth, seeking a “conjunction” between the two. Ha transformed the paint into a material that is physically integrated with the burlap itself.
By the mid- to late 1980s, his practice transformed to foreground the physical body, revealing how the materiality of his work is engaged through the artist’s actions. In the 1990s, while his bold brushstrokes continued to highlight the physical act of painting, Ha began experimenting with a darker, more saturated color palette. His “Post-Conjunction” series, started in 2008, reinterprets and expands upon the technique he used in the “Conjunction” series by incorporating oil paint squeezed between canvas-wrapped wooden sticks and repeatedly scratching the paint with a tool he crafted himself. His focus on materiality, form, and process reveals a deep commitment to examining the intersections between physical and conceptual aspects of art. This ongoing exploration not only solidifies his place within the Dansaekhwa movement, but also positions him as a significant contributor to the dialogue surrounding contemporary painting in a global context.
Ha Chong-Hyun has lived and worked in Seoul since graduating from Hongik University in 1959. Awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the institution, he served as the Dean of the Fine Arts College at Hongik University from 1990 to 1994. From 2003 to 2006, Ha was the Director of the Seoul Museum of Art. Ha has exhibited in major solo exhibitions and group presentations at museums and institutions around the world, including the Venice Biennale, Gwangju Biennale, São Paulo Biennale, Busan Biennale, Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Gwacheon, the Denver Art Museum, Song Art Museum in Beijing, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Brooklyn Museum in New York, Erarta Museum in St. Petersburg, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Fondazione Mudima in Milan. His works are included in the permanent collection of various renowned institutions, such as the Guggenheim; the Art Institute of Chicago; M+ in Hong Kong; Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum; the Museum of Contemporary Art in Hiroshima; Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art in Seoul; and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Korea.
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Ha Chong-Hyun
50 Years of Conjunction 7 Nov - 21 Dec 2024 -
Ha Chong-Hyun
The 59th Venice Biennale Collateral Event 23 Apr - 24 Aug 2022Collateral Event of the 59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia Curated by Sunjung Kim April 23 – August 24, 2022 | Palazzetto Tito (Istituzione Fondazione Bevilacqua La...Learn More -
Ha Chong-Hyun
Return to Color 8 May - 30 Jun 2021Tina Kim Gallery is pleased to present Return to Color, a solo exhibition of works by Ha Chong-Hyun (b. 1935), one of the leading members of the Dansaekhwa movement. Marking...Learn More -
Art Without Borders
30 Nov 2020 - 30 Jan 2021 -
The Winner of 17th LEE Donghoon Art Award : Ha Chong Hyun
The Daejeon Museum of Art 29 Sep - 20 Dec 2020The Daejeon Museum of Art presents the work of Ha Chong Hyun, winner of the 17th Lee Donghoon Award. The Lee Donghoon Award was established to commemorate the artistic legacy...Learn More -
War Within, War Without, Collection 1940s-1970s
Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY 16 Jun 2020Ha Chong-Hyun's Conjunction 74-26, 1974 is on view in MoMA's Gallery 420: War Within, War Without, a part of its show, Collections 1940s-1970s. Ha Chong-Hyun’s experimental Conjunction series was created...Learn More -
Tina Kim Gallery Presents: Art Without Borders
During this campaign, Tina Kim Gallery will donate 100% of net proceeds from the sale of limited edition collectible tea towels to support Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)’s COVID-19 response. 4 May - 30 Jun 2020 -
Korean Abstract Art: Kim Whanki and Dansaekhwa
Powerlong Museum, Shanghai 8 Nov 2018 - 2 Mar 2019Curator: Wang Chunjie Participating artists: Kim Whanki, Kwon Young-Woo, Chung Chang-Sup, Park Seo-Bo, Chung Sang-Hwa, Ha Chong-Hyun, Lee Ufan 'Shanghai’s Powerlong Museum is pleased to announce Korean Abstract Art: Kim...Learn More -
Ha Chong-Hyun
Conjunction 4 May - 16 Jun 2018 -
Rhythm in Monochrome | Korean Abstract Painting
Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery 14 Oct - 24 Dec 2017Rhythm in Monochrome: Korean Abstract Painting at the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery. This exhibition features Kim Whanki, Kwon Young-Woo, Chung Chang-Sup, Park Seo-Bo, Chung Sang-Hwa, Ha Chong-Hyun, and Lee...Learn More -
When Process Becomes Form: Dansaekhwa and Korean Abstraction
The Boghossian Foundation 20 Feb - 24 Apr 2016Kukje Gallery / Tina Kim Gallery and The Boghossian Foundation – Villa Empain present: When Process Becomes Form: Dansaekhwa and Korean Abstraction Chung Chang-Sup, Chung Sang-Hwa, Ha Chong-Hyun, Kim Whanki,...Learn More -
Ha Chong-Hyun
Conjunction 6 Nov - 12 Dec 2015 -
Ha Chong-Hyun
Kukje Gallery 17 Sep - 25 Oct 2015Kukje Gallery is pleased to present a solo exhibition of Ha Chong-Hyun, one of the leading members of Dansaekhwa. This exhibition provides a valuable opportunity to experience an important artist...Learn More -
Dansaekhwa In Venice
Collateral Event of the 56th International Art Exhibition 15 May - 18 Aug 2015 -
Ha Chong-Hyun Retrospective
National Museum of Contemporary Art (NMOCA), Gwacheon, Korea 15 Jun - 12 Aug 2012The National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea (NMOCA) presents the exhibition Ha, Chong-Hyun Retrospective from 15th June - 12th August, 2012. To help establish a comprehensive history of contemporary art...Learn More
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Three Essential Korean Painters Have Shows in New York Right Now. Run, Don’t Walk
Artnet December 20, 2024New York galleries are about to shutter for their holiday breaks, but before they do, can I entice you to take a pause from shopping...Learn More -
Frieze L.A. 2024: Highlights From the Fair
Women's Wear Daily March 3, 2024“We’re very excited to be in L.A.,” said art dealer and gallery owner Tina Kim, who’s based in New York. Known for introducing Asian artists...Learn More -
This Spring, the Korean Avant-Garde Lands In Los Angeles
Artnet February 9, 2024'Recently, K-culture seems to be attracting global attention,” observes 81-year-old artist Lee Kun-Yong. “After the Korean War, everyone was trying to make a living—pursuing art...Learn More -
Fog Design + Art Fair Celebrates 10 Years With Swift Sales and Artist-First Programming
Artnet January 19, 2024FOG Design+Art Fair has hit its 10-year milestone—and its stride. The fair opened on January 18 at San Francisco’s waterfront Fort Mason Center to a...Learn More -
Announcing 2024 Exhibitions
January 5, 2024Tina Kim Gallery is proud to announce our 2024 programming. Our spring season begins with a solo exhibition of Amsterdam-based artist Jennifer Tee, whose wide-ranging...Learn More -
5 Museum Shows to See This Fall in New York City
Testudio September 5, 2023Only the Young: Experimental Art in Korea, 1960s-1970s , The Guggenheim - Sept 1 - Jan 7 Korean Experimental art (silheom misul) was born from...Learn More -
Frieze Debuts in Seoul, With Big-Name Galleries and a Hometown Spectacle
The New York Times August 30, 2022High-end art fairs have been giving themselves global brand extensions for years, and the latest one, Frieze Seoul, is among the more ambitious. Frieze —...Learn More -
Ha Chong-Hyun, retrospective
Juliet July 28, 2022Collateral event of La Biennale di Venezia April 23—August 24, 2022 By Marina Zorz The Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa is hosting one of the collateral...Learn More -
Ha Chong-Hyun
The New York Times April 21, 2022VENICE — After a delay, this city is once again filled with the art class — the pavilions are full, and the parties are thrumming....Learn More -
Ha Chong-Hyun
E-flux March 28, 2022Collateral Event of the 59th Venice Biennale April 23–August 24, 2022 Kukje Art and Culture Foundation is pleased to present a solo exhibition of work...Learn More -
Best Gallery Exhibitions Summer 2021
Observer June 1, 2021This summer galleries are opening doors and welcoming in art lovers, we picked out the ones you won't want to miss. “Return To Color” with...Learn More -
What Abstraction Can Face Up To
Hyperallergic May 15, 2021Ha Chong-Hyun has survived the many catastrophes that have befallen Korea during his lifetime, and his work is inextricable from his life.Learn More -
'Dansaekhwa' artist Ha Chong-hyun holds exhibition in New York
The Korea Times March 12, 2021'Dansaekhwa' artist Ha Chong-hyun, 86, is exhibiting his latest works showcasing his 'relationship with color' at Tina Kim Gallery in New York through June 30....Learn More -
Dansaekhwa artist Ha Chong-hyun presents 'Conjunction' in London
The Korea Times October 7, 2020Renowned dansaekhwa (Korean monochrome painting) artist Ha Chong-hyun opened a solo exhibition at Almine Rech Gallery London, Tuesday. The artist, 85, is best known for...Learn More -
A Full View, at Last, of Modern Art in South Korea
The New York Times June 25, 2020Many rich nations use art, music and movies to project an image to the world, but few take it as seriously as South Korea —...Learn More -
8 Fascinating Finds from the FOG Design+Art Fair in San Francisco
Galerie Magazine January 15, 2020The booming tech industry has yielded a crop of new collectors who favor younger new-media artists, as well as those bridging utilitarian design with sculptural...Learn More -
Tina Kim Gallery Presents Dansaekhwa Works at FOG
Whitewall Magazine January 15, 2020FOG Design + Art opens tomorrow in San Francisco. Of the 48 galleries participating, there are several first-timers, including Tina Kim Gallery. Whitewaller caught up...Learn More -
The 10 Best Booths at Art Basel in Miami Beach
Artsy December 5, 2019For her first-ever solo presentation at Art Basel in Miami Beach, Tina Kim selected a handful of Dansekhwa (Korean minimalist) works in addition to stranger,...Learn More -
MoMA’s Nimble New Incarnation Is Well Suited to a World in Constant Flux
Artnet News October 17, 2019[...] If you’ve read anything about the reinstallation of MoMA’s collection, you will know the basics: film, photography, design, and architecture holdings have been integrated...Learn More -
Ha Chong-Hyun Finds Conjunction Between Spirit and Performance
The Korea Times June 16, 2019By Kwon Mee-yoo Throughout his career, artist Ha Chong-hyun, 84, has been searching for an answer to a burning question: What are the fundamental elements...Learn More -
Mexico City’s Major Fair Exposes the Art World’s Renewed Love of Craft
Observer February 8, 2019By Michael Anthony Farley The Subtly Subversive Artists of Korea’s Dansaekhwa For all the utopian connotations that come with evident craft and populist aesthetics—a celebration...Learn More -
Ruggedly Refined Monochrome: Ha Chong-Hyun at Tina Kim
Artcritical June 14, 2018By Robert C. Morgan It is not uncommon among contemporary Korean artists to find the same title used repeatedly for different paintings, often over a...Learn More -
The Anguish of Ha Chong-Hyun’s New Red Paintings in “Conjunction”
Whitewall May 10, 2018By Drew Clayton The Korean art movement, Danasaekhwa, might not be a familiar modernist art term to many, compared to others such as Abstract Expressionism...Learn More -
Amid Renewed Interest in Korean Dansaekhwa Art, Ha Chong-Hyun Continues to Experiment
Artsy November 16, 2015By Jennifer Baum Lagdameo Conjunction, the title that Korean artist Ha Chong-Hyun has given all of his paintings since the early 1970s, is also the...Learn More -
A Conversation with Ha Chong-Hyun by Ines Min
Ocula October 1, 2015by Ines Min Among the now internationally acclaimed Dansaekhwa artists, Ha Chong-Hyun (b. South Korea, 1935) is notable for his undeniable influence on the shifting...Learn More -
Skin & Surface What is Dansaekhwa and what is its legacy today?
Frieze February 20, 2015By Yoon Jin Sup, Joan Kee, Sam Bardaouil, and Till Rellrath '...Tansaekhwa artists regarded themselves as painters, yet their kind of painting had little to...Learn More -
Monochrome Sets You Free
Hyperallergic December 16, 2014By: Robert C. Morgan I discovered the work of Ha Chonghyun in 2000 at an exhibition mounted at the Gwangju City Art Museum, curated by...Learn More