Ha Chong-Hyun, the pioneering South Korean abstract artist, presents his first solo exhibition in the UK in ten years, titled Conjunction, at Lisson Gallery in London. The show, which runs from 27 August to 3 October, features a new body of work that continues the artist's lifelong exploration of material and process.
A Return to London
Born in 1935 in Miryang, South Korea, Ha Chong-Hyun is a central figure in the Dansaekjo movement, a school of monochrome painting that emerged in Korea in the 1970s. His practice is defined by his signature bae-ap-bub technique, in which he pushes paint through the back of a coarse canvas to create textured, relief-like surfaces. The new paintings in Conjunction expand on this method, incorporating vibrant colours and dynamic compositions.
New Works and Process
The exhibition includes large-scale canvases that juxtapose bold hues — from deep blues and reds to soft greys — with the raw, tactile quality of the hemp cloth. Ha Chong-Hyun's process is meditative and physical: he applies thick layers of paint, then scrapes and manipulates the surface to reveal the weave beneath. The result is a dialogue between control and chance, order and chaos, which the artist describes as a 'conjunction' of opposing forces.
Legacy and Influence
Ha Chong-Hyun's work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Venice Biennale and the Guggenheim Museum, and he has influenced generations of younger Korean artists. Conjunction offers London audiences a rare opportunity to engage with the artist's latest developments, reaffirming his status as a key figure in postwar abstraction. The exhibition is accompanied by a new catalogue with essays by curators and critics.
