Chun Kwang Young

Chun Kwang Young was born in Hongchun, South Korea in 1944. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Hongik University (Seoul). Thereafter, he moved to the U.S. to pursue his Master of Fine Arts from the Philadelphia College of Art (Pennsylvania); it was there that Chun encountered Abstract Impressionism, the medium that encapsulated the first several years of his artistic pursuits.

In his own words, Chun is concerned with “expressing the power of our ancestors’ spirit,” and reflecting on “a painful modern society.” He is best known for his Aggregations Series, which combines sculptural and painting elements to create free-standing or wall-hung sculptures. His signature style – small shapes wrapped in mulberry paper, often tinted with teas or pigment – was borne from childhood memories in Hongchun, South Korea, where doctors’ offices hung mulberry paper-wrapped medicinal herbs from their ceilings. Though his practice is grounded in Korean traditions – and the use of mulberry paper permeates – Chun’s contemporary aesthetic speaks to all audiences.

The artist’s works may be found in the collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Seoul National University Museum of Art, and the United Nations (New York), among others. He was named Artist of the Year by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Seoul), and was awarded the Presidential Prize in the 41st Korean Culture and Art Prize by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.