Choi MyoungYoung at TOKYO Gallery + BTAP

A solo exhibition by Choi MyoungYoung is currently being held, showcasing works painted in monochromatic colors, one of the characteristics of Korean abstract paintings. This category, which has been gaining international recognition in recent years, offers a unique worldview that has continued in Korea since the 1970s. The exhibition will be even more intriguing if you are familiar with its art history and other historical trends.
However, even if you’re not familiar with it, you’ll likely be captivated by the powerful yet serene compositions on display. Why not visit and experience this rare opportunity?

Powerful, short, confident, continuous strokes

As you open the gallery door, you will be greeted by a row of large, serene, monochromatic paintings. The works painted in vermilion are particularly striking, but the orderly arrangement of all the pieces gives the impression that the entire space is a single scene.

As you get closer to the work and appreciate in front of it, you’ll notice short vertical and horizontal lines intersecting and geometrically assembled that extend across the entire picture plane. I believe that the composition of the painting was meticulously thought out by Mr. Choi after deep contemplation, and you may even feel an emotional connection to each powerful stroke.

When viewing the other works both up close and from a distance, you’ll find four or five different geometric combinations, each with its own distinct look and feel. Some works also feature a subtle, finely textured surface that cannot be fully captured in images or words.

This exhibition presents works created within a wide range of years, including 1978-80, 2016-19, and 2022-24. However, rather than offering a retrospective of changing styles, the exhibition showcases Mr. Choi’s unwavering artistic approach, consistent since the 1970s. Why not come and experience it for yourself?

The following is a quote from the press release:

Tokyo Gallery+BTAP is pleased to announce a new exhibition by Choi MyoungYoung, which marks his first solo exhibition in 24 years in Japan.

Choi Myoung-Young was born in Hae Joo, Hwanghae-do, South Korea in 1941. He obtained a degree in painting from Hongik University in 1964, and is currently based in Seoul.

In 1950s and 60s South Korea, the art world, and in particular the Seoul art scene, was dominated by Art Informel, a movement that focused on the expression of sensations and feelings. Choi, then a student at Hongik University, formed a group named Origin with Suh Seung-Won and Lee Seung-Jo. Together, the artists pursued abstract geometric painting under the slogan “logic and reason”. Choi went onto be a founding member of South-Korean avant-garde association AG, and was featured as an up-and-coming artist at the 1967 Bienniale de Paris and the 10th São Paolo Art Biennial (1969).

In the 1970s, Choi began focussing on the intrinsic planar nature of paintings, creating abstract works that explored the possibilities of planes. This marked the beginning of his Conditional Planes series, which continues today. While Choi’s paintings adopt the classic South Korean style of using primary colours and focusing on the relationship between materiality and spirituality, they are also characterised by the accentuation of the planar nature of the canvas, and the use of geometric lines and shapes painted in primary colours.

Early in his career, Choi would start a work by marking the canvas with fingerprints or sandpaper. He would then use rollers and apply multiple layers of pigment to create a thick canvas. Between 1980 and 2000, Choi also employed a style whereby he would fill the entire canvas with a multitude of horizontal and vertical lines.

The current exhibition features ten works by Choi Myoung-Young that date back to the 1980s, including four new works. We look forward to seeing you there.