The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Seoul Metro begins real-time translation service for foreign tourists at Myeong-dong Station

  • 3

    JYP to host annual audition in January

  • 5

    Korean economy to start shrinking by 2050 if low birthrate unaddressed: BOK report

  • 7

    Space race heats up between two Koreas after Seoul launches spy satellite

  • 9

    NK warns 'physical clash, war' on Korean Peninsula a matter of time, not possibility

  • 11

    No. of elementary school freshmen expected to drop below 400,000 next year

  • 13

    Korean battery firms face higher costs for access to US subsidies

  • 15

    Spaniard accused of helping N. Korea evade US sanctions arrested

  • 17

    INTERVIEWMirinae Lee's '8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster' offers fresh perspective on Korean history

  • 19

    Tensions rise as opposition demands special probe into first lady

  • 2

    INTERVIEWEcolab helps Korean partners profit from ESG management

  • 4

    Ronaldo walks off to chants of 'Messi! Messi!' as his team loses 3-0 in Riyadh derby

  • 6

    Son-dol: a cold day for a ferryman and a merchant

  • 8

    ANALYSISHas N. Korean leader's daughter been confirmed as heir apparent?

  • 10

    INTERVIEW'Lifeline for migrant workers in Korea' - Rev. Kim fights for foreign employees' rights

  • 12

    Uncertainty lingers over Ven. Jaseung's death

  • 14

    Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra dazzles audience at Korea International Festival

  • 16

    INTERVIEWKorea to work with US, Japan to fight climate change

  • 18

    Israel widens evacuation orders as it shifts its offensive to southern Gaza amid heavy bombardments

  • 20

    N. Korea's spy satellite operation office begins mission: state media

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Tue, December 5, 2023 | 08:30
Theater & Others
87-year-old Ha Chong-hyun's exploration of materials never ceases
Posted : 2022-02-16 15:15
Updated : 2022-02-16 23:50
Park Han-sol
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Ha Chong-hyun, the 87-year-old trailblazer of Korean modern abstract art / Courtesy of Kukje Gallery
Ha Chong-hyun, the 87-year-old trailblazer of Korean modern abstract art / Courtesy of Kukje Gallery

By Park Han-sol

"To this day, I have continued the fierce tug of war between the burlap canvas and paint. My artwork is born only when the two distinct materials collide with each other."

The oeuvre of Ha Chong-hyun, the 87-year-old trailblazer in Korean modern abstract art, can be best defined as a ceaseless exploration and experimentation with materials ― an artistic journey that has been heavily influenced by the country's turbulent history, following the 1950-53 Korean War.

In the 1960s, his use of hemp cloth from burlap bags for holding grain in lieu of a proper canvas ― along with barbed wire ― began during the post-Korean War period of poverty that made it virtually impossible for a working-class art student to purchase any imported ingredients.

But it was precisely this decision made based on the accessibility of materials that led Ha to invent a unique method, "baeapbeop," which later gave birth to his world-renowned, signature series, "Conjunction."

Ha Chong-hyun, the 87-year-old trailblazer of Korean modern abstract art / Courtesy of Kukje Gallery
Ha Chong-hyun's "Conjunction 21-51" (2021) / Courtesy of the artist and Kukje Gallery

Literally translated as the back-pressure method, "baeapbeop" involves applying thick oil paint to the back of the hemp canvas and pushing it with the likes of wooden spatula through the cloth's coarse weave, thereby creating beads of paint seeping into the front surface. No matter what the resulting shape of the beads is, the artist embraces the outcome.

But the iconic series that launched his artistic career never stopped him from branching out even further.

"When taking a careful look at my works spanning decades, you can witness the sudden changes taking place every now and then. I just didn't want to stay in one place," Ha said at Kukje Gallery in central Seoul, Tuesday, where his ongoing solo exhibition traces his relentless evolution from the original "Conjunction" series, with muted tones, to the incorporation of vibrant multi colors, and finally, to the "Post-Conjunction" series.

"Throughout my career, when one of my artistic practices [started getting recognition] and resulting in sales, I would move on to a different one that had no demand. Sure, that didn't always put food on the table, but I think it was worth it in the end."

Ha Chong-hyun, the 87-year-old trailblazer of Korean modern abstract art / Courtesy of Kukje Gallery
Ha Chong-hyun's "Conjunction 21-38" (2021) / Courtesy of the artist and Kukje Gallery

While his earlier "Conjunction" pieces utilized muted, earthy tones recalling Korean history and collective memories ― traditional "giwa" or roof tiles that have withstood the test of time, white porcelain and silver grass fields ― Ha began incorporating more spirited colors in the mid-2010s.

The colored series inside the gallery is awash with rich hues of crimson red and ocean blue, to which the artist has made several tweaks here and there to smudge and spread the paint, even scorching it by holding a gasoline-soaked torch near the wet surface.

The latest "Post-Conjunction" series takes one step further by aligning thinly cut wooden sticks either vertically or horizontally on the canvas, after applying oil paint underneath or in between these pieces. As a result, the colorful paint seeps out to the surface, giving a chance for the artist to either leave it as-is or scratch it with free will to add more rhythmic dynamics.

"I realize that there aren't that many people like me left who still hold the brush like I do at the age of nearly 90," Ha said.

"Noticing my paintings pile up in a storage vault, I used to wish that they would sell well. But now, I'm scared to see them be all scattered all over … I hope there can be one space dedicated to a collection of my pieces, showing the traces that I, as a person, was able to leave behind."

Meanwhile, after Kukje Gallery's exhibition, "Ha Chong-Hyun," which runs through March 13, a major retrospective on Ha's work is scheduled to kick off at the historical Palazzetto Tito in Venice from April 21 to Aug. 24 during this year's Venice Biennale.

Ha Chong-hyun, the 87-year-old trailblazer of Korean modern abstract art / Courtesy of Kukje Gallery
Ha Chong-hyun's "Post-Conjunction 11-3" (2011) / Courtesy of the artist and Kukje Gallery
Emailhansolp@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
LG group
Top 10 Stories
1Seoul Metro begins real-time translation service for foreign tourists at Myeong-dong Station Seoul Metro begins real-time translation service for foreign tourists at Myeong-dong Station
2[INTERVIEW] Mirinae Lee's '8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster' offers fresh perspective on Korean history INTERVIEWMirinae Lee's '8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster' offers fresh perspective on Korean history
3Go Dae-su: Queen Min's giant female bodyguardGo Dae-su: Queen Min's giant female bodyguard
4Korea on alert over another urea shortage crisis Korea on alert over another urea shortage crisis
5N. Korean hacker group Andariel steals S. Korean defense secrets N. Korean hacker group Andariel steals S. Korean defense secrets
6Park Sae-eun receives French order of merit Park Sae-eun receives French order of merit
7Samsung's sports marketing called into question after Bluewings' relegation Samsung's sports marketing called into question after Bluewings' relegation
8President names new finance, land ministers in Cabinet shake-up President names new finance, land ministers in Cabinet shake-up
9Debate grows over broadening of state insurance coverage for drug rehabilitation Debate grows over broadening of state insurance coverage for drug rehabilitation
10Camarata Music celebrates Christmas Camarata Music celebrates Christmas
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Popular talk show 'Strong Heart' returns with new format Popular talk show 'Strong Heart' returns with new format
2How Lee Ung-no pioneered East-West fusion through brushstrokesHow Lee Ung-no pioneered East-West fusion through brushstrokes
3[REVIEW] Preview gala sets stage for grand premiere of 'La Rose de Versailles' musical REVIEWPreview gala sets stage for grand premiere of 'La Rose de Versailles' musical
4JYP to host annual audition in JanuaryJYP to host annual audition in January
5Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra dazzles audience at Korea International FestivalTaipei Philharmonic Orchestra dazzles audience at Korea International Festival
DARKROOM
  • It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

    It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

  • 2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

    2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

  • Appreciation of autumn colors

    Appreciation of autumn colors

  • Our children deserve better

    Our children deserve better

  • Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

    Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel: 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844
Date of registration: 2020.02.05
Masthead: The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group