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‘The technique was revolutionary’: Ha Chong-Hyun, the 91-year-old South Korean artist who turned painting inside out
In his trailblazing work, paint is pushed through the back of hemp to create spare, striking paintings. Abstraction is a form of rebellion, he says – and he has no intention of slowing down
TL;DR
- Ha Chong-Hyun, a 91-year-old South Korean artist, developed the 'back-pressure method' in the early 1970s, applying oil paint to the back of hemp fabric.
- This technique, where paint is pushed through the fabric and manipulated from the front, is central to his 'Conjunction' series, symbolizing the union of artist and material.
- Ha's work is associated with the Dansaekhwa movement, known for its minimalist aesthetic and use of monochrome colors, and is gaining significant international recognition.
- His artistic approach emerged from a context of post-war poverty in Korea and was partly a rebellion against state-imposed figurative art.
- Ha continues to innovate within his established method, experimenting with different materials, colors, and techniques, and intends to keep working as long as possible.