Ha Chong-Hyun retrospective opens at San Francisco Asian Art Museum

The Asian Art Museum (AAM) in San Francisco will host the first major North American retrospective for Ha Chong-Hyun, a master of Korean Dansekhwa (monochrome painting). The exhibition, titled ‘Ha Chong-Hyun: Retrospective’, is scheduled to run from January 25, 2025, through January 25, 2027.

The exhibition will feature approximately 50 paintings, tracing Ha’s artistic evolution from the early 1960s through his involvement with the Korean Avant-Garde Association. It highlights his signature ‘Conjunction’ series, characterized by his unique ‘back-pressure’ technique where paint is pushed through burlap—material traditionally used for transporting grain—onto the front of the canvas.

In addition to historical works, the exhibition will showcase new pieces created by the 91-year-old artist in 2024 and 2025. The event is supported by SK Group and Podo Museum, aiming to introduce Korean contemporary art to a broader international audience. The AAM, which has maintained a dedicated Korean art department since the 1970s, serves as a significant venue for this cultural exchange.