Yun Hyong-keun: Calmly | Cheongju Museum of Art, Cheongju, South Korea

July 4 – September 29, 2024

Yun Hyong-keun
Calmly
Cheongju Museum of Art, Cheongju, South Korea

The Cheongju Museum of Art is pleased to present a solo exhibition of Yun Hyong-keun, the revered master of Dansaekhwa. The exhibition offers a comprehensive exploration of Yun’s art, featuring a range of paintings, drawings, and archival materials from unreleased early works of the 1960s to recent pieces from the 2000s. This exhibition is particularly notable for presenting several early works for the first time in Korea and marking Yun’s first solo exhibition at a museum in his birthplace and hometown.

Yun has developed a distinctive artistic approach by blending ultramarine, symbolizing the heavens, with umber, representing the earth, and applying them to unprimed cloth or hanji to create natural, smeared effects. His artwork is characterized by its simplicity and elegance; the unadorned surfaces, devoid of titles or overt techniques, embody the artist’s ideology of seeking harmony between life and art. Bold compositions reveal the essence of Yun’s painterly aesthetics, capturing his dedicated and serene artistic practice.

The exhibition highlights Yun’s artistic journey through three sections. The first section explores his artistic roots through early works and drawings. The second section focuses on paintings from the 1970s onward, showcasing his unique style that utilizes color fields of ultramarine and umber. The third section consists of works from the 1990s onward, demonstrating Yun’s simplified and refined artistic approach. 

Having navigated periods of political and social upheaval, Yun expresses existential struggles and reflects on the essence of nature through his unique, restrained aesthetic. His works encapsulate a profound philosophical exploration of art and life.

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