Poster image of 《Ha Chong-Hyun 5975》 ©Art Sonje
CenterArt
Sonje Center presents 《Ha Chong-Hyun 5975》, an exhibition dedicated to the early works of Korean artist Ha
Chong-Hyun, spanning the years 1959 to 1975. Running from February 14 to April
20, this exhibition investigates how Ha’s materials and techniques evolved in
dynamic interaction with the socio-historical context of South Korea.
Ha’s
early works reflect the artist’s response to the upheavals of Korean modern
history, including the Korean War, rapid industrialization, and urbanization –
reimagining social realities and his personal experiences.
Ha Chong Hyun,
Conjunction, 1974, Collection of Leeum Museum of Art ©Ha
Chong Hyun《Ha
Chong-Hyun 5975》 explores four stages in the artist’s
career, from 1959, shortly after his graduation from Hongik University, to
1975, when he began the ‘Conjunction’ series—now recognized as his most iconic
body of work. The first section, titled “Informel (1959–1965),” examines how
Ha’s work, influenced by the Informel movement, captured the chaos,
devastation, and uncertainty of the postwar era.
The
second section, “Urbanization and Geometric Abstraction (1967–1970),” focuses
on Ha’s geometric abstraction on themes of rapid urbanization and economic
growth, along with his blending of traditional and modern elements in the ‘Naissance’
series. The third section, “The Korean Avant Garde Association (AG)—New Art
Movements (1969–1975),” highlights his experimental works through his
involvement with AG. The final section, “Conjunction—The Back-Pressure Method
(1974–1975),” presents early examples of his renowned ‘Conjunction’ series.
Tracing
these stages, the exhibition reveals how Ha’s early works evolved within their
social and historical context. In doing so, it highlights that the diverse
artistic experiments of Ha, one of the leading figures in the Korean monochrome
painting (Dansaekhwa) movement and one of the key figures who brought it to the
world, remain relevant in today’s global art discourse.
Ji Yeon Lee has been working as an editor for the media art and culture channel AliceOn since 2021 and worked as an exhibition coordinator at samuso (now Space for Contemporary Art) from 2021 to 2023.
