Artist

Kim Tschang-Yeul

Kim Tschang-Yeul has been working on waterdrop painting for a long time. Kim’s water droplets painting appear to seep out of the fabric of the canvas. The painting utilizes a true trompe l’oeil technique, creating the illusion that the transparent water drops will fall at any moment. Some paintings are entirely covered with water drops, while others are half filled, or even have just a single drop. Some have stopped at a certain point after flowing, while others are being absorbed by the floor. The water drop is an illusion that simulates the canvas. It is not a depiction of the actual thing but an indication to an idea. In 1957, Kim organized the Modern Artists Association with Park Seobo and Chung Chang-sup and led the radical Informel Movement in Korea. Turning his attention to the international art world, he submitted his work to the 2nd Paris Biennale in 1961 and the Sao Paulo Biennale in 1965. In 1969, he participated in the Avant-Garde Festival in Paris. He made an actual debut as a painter in Europe during the presentation of his works “Event of Night” in the Salon de Mai in 1972. Ever since, he has continued to present works featuring water drops. In 2004, Kim held a retrospective on his water drop paintings over the past 30 years at the Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume.

  • Education
    • 1968 The Art Students League of New York, New York, USA
      1950 BFA, Seoul National University, College of Fine Art, Seoul, Korea
  • Selected Solo Exhibitions
    • 2020 Gallery Hyundai, Seoul, Korea
      2019 《Kim Tschang-Yeul: New York to Paris》, Tina Kim Gallery, New York, USA
      2018 Almine Rech Gallery, New York, USA
      2018 《Recurrence》, Kim Tschang-Yeul Museum, Jejudo, Korea
      2017 《A Communion of Beads》, Pearl Lam Gallery, Hong Kong
      2016 Galerie Enrico Navara, Paris, France
      2014 Gwangju Museum of Art, Gwangju, Korea
      2013 Gallery Baudoin Lebon, Paris, France
      2012 National Taiwan Museum of Fine Art, Taichung, Taiwan
  • Selected Group Exhibitions
    • 2020 《현대 HYUNDAI 50 Part 1》, Gallery Hyundai, Seoul, Korea
      2019 《Abstractions》, Song Art Museum, Beijing, China
      2018 《Ways of Seeing》, New York University Abu Dhabi Art Gallery, Abu Dhabi, UAE
      2017 《Ways of Seeing》, Fondation Boghossian, Villa Empain, Brussels, Belgium
      2016 《Artists Coreens en France》, Musee Cernuschi, Paris, France
      2015 《MMCA Collection Highlights》, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, Korea
  • Residencies/Awards/
    Collections
    • Awards
      2017 Officier dans l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres, France
      2017 The 62nd National Academy of Arts of Republic of Korea Awards, Korea
      2012 Order of Cultural Merit, Korea
      1996 Chevalier dans l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres, France
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〈Rite〉, 1966, Oil on canvas, 162x138cm. Image Courtesy of Gallery Hyundai

〈Water Drops ENS 85013〉, 1985, Oil on Canvas, 130x97cm. Image Courtesy of Gallery Hyundai

〈Water Drops SH87032〉, 1987, Acrylic on Korean paper mounted on canvas, 190x300cm. Image Courtesy of Gallery Hyundai

〈Recurrence SH04043〉, 2004, Acrylic and Oil on Korean Paper mounted on Panel, 96x129cm. Image Courtesy of Gallery Hyundai

〈Recurrence SH2013004〉, 2013, Acrylic and oil on canvas, 197x290.9cm. Image Courtesy of Gallery Hyundai

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