Latest news with #ArtSonjeCenter
Korea Herald
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Ha Chong-hyun was experimental artist before he became Dansaekhwa master
Little-known aspects of Ha's early career get spotlight at Art Sonje Center in Seoul Ha Chong-hyun, 90, is widely known as a master of Dansaekhwa, a Korean genre of monochrome painting, but before that, he was an artist who constantly experimented with his art. His solo exhibition 'Ha Chong-Hyun 5975' sheds light on the master's early works spanning from 1959 to 1975, exploring his use of varied techniques and diverse materials. Amid the influx of Western art, Ha agonized over how to maintain his artistic identity while embracing global art trends. Ha is most popularly known for the so-called 'baeapbeop,' literally meaning "back-pressure technique." His 'Conjunction' series, which the artist embarked on in the 1970s, overturned the concept of painting using canvases made of hemp cloth. Baeapbeop involves pushing thick layers of paint from the back side of the burlap canvas so that the paint oozes through, creating a unique texture on the surface. It is for this technique that he later came to be identified as a Dansaekhwa artist. But the Art Sonje exhibition starts with his early art, from 1959 to 1965, where he used informalism, a global art style that emerged after the Second World War. He drew inspiration from the informalist movement, using it to reflect the chaos and scars of the Korean War (1950-1953). 'He visualized the collective memories of war and social upheaval, laying the foundation for his later experiments with material possibilities and the expansion of painting's boundaries,' according to the museum. A decade later, as the country was swept in with rapid industrialization, Ha began focusing on the social changes driven by urbanization. His 'White Paper on Urban Planning' series demonstrates how he visualized the transformation of cities — the painting 'White Paper on Urban Planning 67' shows horizontal folds in the lower part of the canvas with bold color painting. It is reminiscent of a fast-changing society on the one hand and traditional Korean garments or house on the other, due to the colors that are often seen in traditional Korean objects. It is generally not well-known that Ha was one of the figures who led the establishment of the Korean Avant Garde Association in 1969. The artists in the group aimed to push the boundaries of Korean contemporary art through experimental approaches using everyday materials — from wire to newspaper, plaster and springs, among others. His art from 1969 to 1974 is shown in the 'New Art Movements' section of the exhibition. Coinciding with the exhibition, a lecture entitled 'Ha Chong-Hyun: An Enduring Spirit of Experimentation' by An Kyung, curator of Asian art initiative at the Guggenheim Foundation in New York will take place at Art Sonje Center at 2 p.m., March 22. Some 40 works are on display at the exhibition, running through April 20. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Korea Herald
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Pioneering LGBTQ+ collector Patrick Sun to break through Korean art scene
An unprecedented LGBTQ+ exhibition is set to take place in the first quarter of next year Hong Kong collector Patrick Sun has collected art since the 1980s, merging his passions in contemporary art and LGBTQ+ society. The collector will knock on the door of the Korean art scene early next year by showing his collection at the Art Sonje Center in Seoul. An exhibition of artwork with overarching LGBTQ+ themes is unprecedented for the museum in a city where such art is rarely dealt. Sun, the founder of Sunpride Foundation, claims he is the first to collect art to support the LGBTQ+ society 'systematically' in Asia with a mission to exhibit at museums. 'It is our great pleasure to announce our fourth exhibition in Asia at Art Sonje Center. Seoul is a dynamic city, rich in character and with a thriving arts community, while Art Sonje Center is an institution I respect very much,' he said. When he visited Seoul in September last year, he found the city is becoming more accepting and tolerant regarding the LGBTQ+ community. His collection includes Korean artists such as LA-based Lee Kang-seung among some 300 works. 'I suppose if we do a show with a gallery, it would also have good exposure, but I don't think the general public will come to see it,' he told The Korea Herald in September before finalizing the exhibition venue. 'But with public museums, you get like aunts, grandmas and students coming in, and if they are not sure what they are coming to see and it happens to be a queer theme with our show – hopefully after the exposure, they become a little bit more open-minded.' The Art Sonje Center is a privately owned, non-profit museum dedicated to supporting contemporary and experimental art. Sun's collection has been built throughout decades with his particular interest in social injustice relating to LGBTQ+ and marginalized communities who face discrimination. 'There is one issue that I am particularly interested in. I sort of briefly touch upon the queer culture that is embedded in the history that tends to be overlooked as history is written predominately by straight people – there must be other stories that were not documented or remembered,' he said. Sun said he is always aware that there are diverse voices surrounding the queer community in many societies and tries to be careful in selecting art and the way he and curators present works when he does an exhibition. 'Hopefully what we do makes an impact (with an exhibition), but I am not really ambitious. You know, people would say, 'Wow do you want to affect the society with law change?' No, that is really beyond my control,' he said. 'But it is my duty to try (on behalf of LGBTQ+ people) to convince even one person that it is not wrong or just 'fashionable.'' The exhibition will take place in the first quarter of next year. 'We deeply admire their mission of championing the marginalized voices of the LGBTQ+ artistic community within Asia-Pacific, successfully cultivated by Patrick Sun over the years. Together, in collaboration with Sunpride Foundation, we are excited to present a show that engages with the contemporary Korean queer art scene alongside Asia-Pacific artists, fostering meaningful dialogue and visibility for these vital artistic voices,' said Kim Sun-jung, artistic director of Art Sonje Center.
