Ha Chong-Hyun (b. 1935, Sancheong-gun; lives and works in Seoul) is a master artist within the Dansaekhwa art movement Korean monochrome painting distinguished by its attention to the formal structure of the picture plane and the incorporation of East Asian spirituality. Amid extreme material deprivation and the authoritarian political system of 1960s and 70s Korea, Ha explored the potential of unorthodox materials such as newsprint, scrap lumber, and barbed wire attached to canvas. Working with muted earth tones on burlap and hemp canvases, and combining painting traditions from the East and West, Ha was instrumental in redefining the role of painting. In 1969, the artist cofounded the Korean Avant-Garde Association to generate new directions for Korean art through various art publications and group exhibitions. By the 80s, his practice centered on the physical act of painting and a turn to darker, more saturated colors. His long-standing focus on form and process position him as a visionary contributor to contemporary painting in the global context. Published to celebrate the artist s upcoming ninetieth birthday, this beautifully illustrated volume is a fitting tribute to a revelatory figure.
