Born in 1927 in Cheongiu, South Korea
Died in Seoul, South Korea

Born in 1927 in Cheongiu, South Korea
Died in Seoul, South Korea
Né en 1927, Chung Chang-Sup est une figure majeure du mouvement monochrome Dansaekhwa, synthèse entre l’esprit coréen traditionnel et l’abstraction occidentale, apparu au début des années 1970. Bien qu’il reste à ce jour une force motrice de l’art contemporain coréen, le Dansaekhwa a également acquis une renommée internationale ces dernières années.
Si la peinture monochrome coréenne n’ait jamais été définie par un manifeste, les artistes qui y sont rattachés partagent principalement une palette restreinte de nuances neutres – à savoir le blanc, le beige et le noir – à l’origine du terme générique 'dansaekhwa' (littéralement 'monochrome'). Cependant, le monochrome en tant que tel n’a jamais été non plus l’objet principal ni la raison d’être des protagonistes du Dansaekhwa, dont les vocabulaires ascétiques ont conduit à une esthétique globale formellement comparable à celle du minimalisme occidental : le processus prévaut dans la répétition implacable de motifs géométriques ou graphiques tout au long de leur œuvre. Par ailleurs, le Dansaekhwa et le Minimalisme se sont tous deux développés en réaction à l’Art Informel ou à l'Expressionnisme abstrait, et visaient à effacer l'art de l'expression de soi et du débordement émotionnel porté par les traits simples/coups de pinceau uniques et les couleurs vives. De fait, tous les pionniers du Dansaekhwa étaient autrefois perçus comme pratiquant l’Art Informel, selon les principes avec lesquels ils avaient contribué à créer l’Association des Artistes de Hyun-Dae à Seoul en 1957, dans le but de permettre aux jeunes artistes coréens d’exprimer leur angoisse au lendemain de la guerre civile.
L’œuvre de Chung Chang-Sup reflète une croyance taoïste selon laquelle l’artiste doit équilibrer la matière et la nature à travers un acte de création unifié pour atteindre l’harmonie.
education
1951
- Graduated from College of Fine Arts, Seoul National University, Seoul
1946
- Entered College of Fine Arts, Seoul National University, Seoul
- Graduated from Cheongju School of Education, Cheongju, Korea
1941
- Entered Cheongju School of Education, Cheongju, Korea
- Graduated from Youngjeong Elementary School, Cheongju, Korea
solo shows
2016
- Chung Chang-Sup, Axel Vervoordt Gallery, Antwerp
- Chung Chang-Sup, Kukje Gallery, Seoul
- Meditation, Galerie Perrotin, Hong Kong
2015
- Meditation, Galerie Perrotin, New York
- Meditation, Galerie Perrotin, Paris
2010
- National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea, Gwacheon, Korea
2007
- PYO Gallery, Seoul
- PYO Gallery, Beijing, China
2004
- Johyun Gallery, Busan, Korea
2003
- Gallery Euro, Seoul
2001
- PYO Gallery, Seoul
2000
- Johyun Gallery, Busan, Korea
1999
- Park Ryu Sook Gallery, Seoul
- Sigong Gallery, Daegu, Korea
- Tokyo Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1996
- Gallery Hyundai, Seoul
1995
- Mark Moore Gallery, Los Angeles, U.S.A.
1994
- Space World, Busan, Korea
- Tokyo Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1993
- Ho- Am Art Gallery, Seoul
1985
- Ueda Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
- Cheongtap Gallery, Cheongju, Korea
1984
- Art Core Center, Los Angeles, U.S.A.
- Duson Gallery, Seoul
group shows
2017
- Unpacked: Contemporary Works from Private Collections of Northern California, Museums of Sonoma County, Santa Rosa, California, U.S.A.
2016
- When Process Becomes Form: Dansaekhwa and Korean Abstraction, Curated by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, The Boghossian Foundation, Brussels, Belgium
- Summer Group, Park Ryu Sook Gallery, Seoul
- Dansaekhwa, Villa Empain, Brussels, Belgium
- Danseaekhwa: The Adventure of Korean Monochrome from the 1970s to Today, Domaine de Kerguehennec, Bignan, France
- The Myth of YOBAEK: The Opening Exhibition, Cheongju Museum of Art, Cheongju
- The 70th Anniversary of Seoul National University, Museum of Art Seoul National University, Seoul
2015
- Dansaekwha, Collateral Event of the 56th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale, di Venezia, Palazzo Contarini- Polignac, Venezia, Italy
- Avant Garde Asia: Lines of Korean Masters, Sotheby’s Hong Kong Gallery, Hong Kong
- The past, the present, the possible, Sharjah Biennial 12, Sharjah, UAE
2014
- Empty Fullness: Materiality and spirituality in Cotemporary Korean Art, Beijing, China/Berlin, Germany/ Indonesia/ Sao Paulo, Brazil
- The Art of Dansaekhwa: Korean Monochrome Painting, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, Korea
2012
- Dansaekhwa: Korean Monochrome Painting, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, Korea
- Korean Abstract Painting- 10 perspectives, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, Korea
2011
- Tell me Tell me: Australian and Korean Art 1976- 2011, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea / Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney
- Qi is Full, The Opening Exhibition of Daegu- Art Museum, Daegu, Korea
2010
- In the Midst of the Korean Contemporary Art, Gallery Hyundai, Seoul
2009
- Korean Monochrome, Wellside Gallery, Shanghai, China
2008
- Korean Abstract Paintings: 1958- 2008, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul
- Drawing from Korea: 1870- 1970, Soma Museum of Art, Seoul Joseon Wood Furniture and Korean Contemporary Abstract Art, Shinsegye Department Store Gallery, Seoul
2007
- Abstract Art, Nam Seoul Annex Building of Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul
- New Acquisitions, Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art, Ansan, Korea
2006
- Masters of Korean Contemporary Art, Leehwaik Gallery, Seoul
2005
- The Seoul Art Exhibition 2005, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul
2004
- Monochrome Painting of Korea, Past and Present, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul
- Permeating, Leehyun Gallery, Daegu, Korea
2003
- White Spectrum- Joseon White Porcelain and Korean Contemporary Art, World Ceramic
Exposition, Joseon Royal Klin Museum, Gwangju, Korea
2002
- Understanding Abstract Arts, Sungkok Art Museum, Seoul Korean Contemporary Art from the mid- 1970s to mid- 1980s:
- Age of Philosophy and Aesthetics, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, Korea
- Aesthetic of 70s Plane Hidden by Monotone, Hanwon Museum of Art, Seoul
- Japan- Korea Contemporary Art Exhibition, Gana Insa Art Center, Seoul& Yokohama Takashimaya Department Store Gallery, Japan
- 100 Korean Modern Arts, National Museum of Art, Deoksugung, Seoul
- 4 Korean Contemporary Artists (Chang- Sup Chung, Se- Ok Suh, Tschang- Yeul Kim, Seo- Bo Park) Gallery Misulsegye, Tokyo, Japan
2001
- Shadow of Comprehension, Sagan Gallery, Seoul
2000
- An Aspect of Korean Contemporary Art, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, Korea
- NATURE, Posco Art Museum, Seoul, Korea
- Gwangju Biennale 2000, Gwangju Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gwangju, Korea
- Plane as Spirits, Busan Metropolitan Art Museum, Busan, Korea
- Seoul National University & Korean Art, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul
- New Millennium, Gallery Hyundai, Seoul
1999
- Korean Art 50 Years: 1950- 1999, Gallery Hyundai, Seoul
- Les Peintres du Silence, Musée des Arts Asiatiques, Nice, France
1999- 1983
- Ecole de Seoul, Kwanhoon Gallery, Seoul
1998
- Silent Artists Today Korea, Musée du Château des Duc de Württemberg, Monbéliard, France
1996
- Invitational Exhibition for the 50th Anniversary of Seoul
- National University, Seoul University and Korean Art, Seoul
- National University Museum, Seoul
- Black and White, Gallery Seomi, Seoul
- Korean Monochrome of 1970s, Gallery Hyundai, Seoul
- Spirit of Korean Abstract Painting, Ho- Am Art Gallery, Seoul
1995
- 52 International and National Artists, Gallery Hyundai, Seoul
- Korean Nature: Meditation- Expression, Park Ryu Sook Gallery, Seoul
- Art Contemporain Coréen, Couvent des Cordeliers, Paris, France
- Seoul Art Competition, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul
- The Korean Modern Painting for Fifty Years, Hanlim Museum, Daejeon, Korea
- Posco Center Opening Exhibition, Posco Art Museum, Seoul
1994
- Seoul International Art Festival, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, Korea
- Korean Contemporary Art: Light and Color in Korean Art, Ho- Am Art Gallery, Seoul
1993
- 12 Contemporary Artists from Korea, Miyagi Museum of Art, Sendai, Japan
- ’93 Seoul Art Competition, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul
- Korean Art, Yesterday and Today, Hanlim Gallery, Daejeon, Korea
- 4 Korean Contemporary Artists, Sigong Gallery, Daegu
1992
- Working with Nature: Contemporary Art from Korea, Tate Gallery, Liverpool, England
- Contemporary Art Festival ’21, National Museum of Contemporary art, Gwacheon, Korea
- Korean Contemporary Art, Sonje Museum of Contemporary Art, Gyeongju, Korea & Niigata City Art Museum, Niigata & Kasama Nichido Museum of Art Foundation, Ibaraki & Mie Prefectural Art Museum, Mie, Japan
- Line and Expression, Ho- Am Art Museum, Seoul
1991
- A Grouping for the Identity of Korean Contemporary Art I, III, Hanwon Gallery, Seoul
- The 2nd Tokyo Art EXPO, Tokyo, Japan
- 25 Korean Contemporary Artists, Gallery Hyundai, Seoul
- 5 Contemporary Artists, Hankuk Art Museum, Seoul
- ‘91 Seoul Art Competition, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul
- Inaugural Exhibition of Korean Contemporary Art, Sonje
- Museum of Contemporary Art, Gyeongju, Korea
1990
- Contemporary Art Festival ’90, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, Korea
- Korean Art- Today’s situation, Seoul Arts Center, Hangaram Art Museum, Seoul
- Korean Contemporary Art, Total Art Museum, Seoul
- ’90 Seoul Art Competition, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul
1989
- Contemporary Chinese Art, Sponsored by UNESCO, Palace Museum, Beijing, China
- ’89 Seoul Art Competition, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul
- Commissioned Work “Theme Hiroshima,” Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, Hiroshima, Japan
1988
- The 9th Today’s Artists, Exhibition, Kwanhoon Gallery, Seoul
- 4 Korean Painters, Tokyo Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
- Modern Korean Paintings in the ‘70s, Walker Hill Art Center, Seoul
- Invitational Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Inaugural Exhibition of Chosun Daily Newspaper Museum, Seoul
- ’88 Seoul Art competition, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul
- Olympiad of Art: International Contemporary Art Festival, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, Korea
- Modernism in Korean Contemporary Art Scene: 1970- 1979, Hyundai Department Store Gallery, Seoul
- 88’ Contemporary Korean Paintings, The National Museum of History, Taipei, Taiwan
1988- 1975
- Seoul Contemporary Art Festival, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul
1987
- ’87 Contemporary Art Exhibit, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, Korea
- The 8th Today’s Artists Exhibition, Kwanhoon Gallery, Seoul 4 Korean Contemporary Artists, Laboratory Gallery, Sapporo, Japan
- 39 Contemporary Artists, Commemorate for The Late Professor Su- geun Kim, Space Art Museum, Seoul
- ’87 Seoul Art Competition, by Seoul Metropolitan Government, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, Korea
- Chang- Sup Chung, Seo- Bo Park Exhibition, Gonggan Art Museum, Seoul
1986
- Seoul Art ’86, Organized by Soul Metropolitan Government, Seoul City Museum of Art, Seoul
- Salon des Artistes Françaises, Grand Palais, Paris, France
- Past & Present: Traditional and Contemporary Korean ‘Paper Work,’ Muromachi Ogura, Kyoto, Japan
- Korean Art Today, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea, Gwacheon, Korea
- The 10th ’86 Seoul Contemporary Asian Art Shows, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon & Deoksugung, Korean Culture and Arts Foundation Art Center, Seoul
- ’86 Contemporary Art Invitational, Buson Gallery, Seoul
1985
- Minimal and Maximal, Hu Gallery, Jeon Gallery, Seoul 70 Years of Korean Western Modern Art from the past 40 Years, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoun
- ASPACAE (Asian Pacific Conference on Arts Education) ’85, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Paper Works by Contemporary Korean Artists, Sarah Spurgeon Gallery, Central Washington University, Washington D.C., U.S.A.
- The 12th Catholic Art Exhibition, Korean Culture and Arts Foundation Art center, Seoul
- Contemporary Art Festival ’85, National Museum of Contemporary of Art, Seoul
- The 1st Asian International Art Exhibition, National Museum of Contemporary of Art, Seoul
1984
- The 5th Today’s Artists Exhibition, Korean Culture and Arts Foundation Art Center, Seoul
- Contemporary Art of the 1960s: The Works of the Biennale de Paris, Duson Gallery, Seoul
- Contemporary Korean Art: The Late ‘70s- A situation, Korean Culture and Arts Foundation Art Center, Seoul
- Paper Work ’84, Kwanhoon Gallery, Seoul
- Contemporary Korean Art: Currents in the ‘70s, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
- Contemporary Art Festival ’84, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul
- 60s Korean Contemporary Art: Informal and Its Surroundings, Walkerhill Art Center, Seoul
- Exposition de la Peinture Blanche, French Cultural Center, Seoul
- Today’s Art: Selected from The Collection of Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
1984- 1983
- Exchange Exhibition of Print and Drawing Between Seoul and San Francisco, U.S.I.S,
- Seoul & World Print council, San Francisco & Korean Cultural Service, Los Angeles, U.S.A.
1983
- Contemporary Korean Art, Viscontea Hall, Milano, Italy
- Contemporary Art Festival ’83, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul
- Korean Contemporary Arts Exhibition of the 70s Exhibition, Tokyo Museum of Art,
- Tokyo & Tochigi Municipal Museum of Art, Tochigi & Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art, - Sapporo & Fukuoka City Museum, Fukuoka, Japan
- Korea: New Paper Works, Spring Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
- 7 Korean Artists, Yil Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan
1983- 1982
- The Art of Contemporary Paper: Korea and Japan, Deoksugung Art Museum, Seoul
- Kyoto Municipal Museum, Kyoto & Saitama Museum of Modern Art, Urawa
- Kumamoto Folk Museum, Kumamoto, Japan
1982
- The 3rd Today’s Artists Exhibition, Korean Culture and Arts Foundation Art Center, Seoul
- The Phase of Contemporary Korean Art, Myungdong Gallery, Seoul
- Tokyo Metropolitan Museum, Tokyo, Japan
1981
- The 2nd Today’s Artists Exhibition, Korean Culture and Arts Foundation Art Center, Seoul
- Korean Art ’81, Deoksugung Art Museum, Seoul
- Works on Paper- Drawings Exhibition of Contemporary Korean Artists, Dongsanbang Gallery, Seoul
- Art Core Center, Los Angeles, U.S.A.
- Drawing ’81, Deoksugung Art Museum, Seoul
1981- 1972
- Korean National Art Exhibition, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul
1980
- The 1st International Art Exchange, Sejong Center Art Museum, Seoul
- The Grand Exhibition of Contemporary Korean Print
- The 3rd Seoul 1970, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul
1974
- Seoul ’70 Founding Member’s Exhibition, Shinsegye Department Store Gallery, Seoul
- The 4th India Triennale, New Delhi, India
- The 10th Contemporary Asian Art Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan
1973
- Korean Contemporary Art 1957- 1972 Abstraction- Situation, Myungdong Gallery, Seoul
- Exhibition of 100 Modern Korean Painters, Deoksugung Art Museum, Seoul
- Korean Contemporary Art ’73, Downtown Gallery, Hawaii, U.S.A.
1972
- Korean Contemporary Paintings Exhibition, Traveling India, Nepal and Afghanistan
1970
- The 19th Korean National Art Exhibition, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul
- The 1st Grand Prize Exhibition of Korean Art, Gyeongbokgung Art Museum, Seoul
- Space Gallery Museum Invitational, Space Gallery, Seoul
- Professors’ Art Exhibition by College of Fine Arts, Seoul National University, College of Fine Arts, Seoul National University, Seoul
1969
- The 18th Korean National Art Exhibition, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea, Seoul
- The 1st Cannes International Paintings Festival, Cannes, France
- The 1st Pistoia International Paintings Biennale, Pistoia, Italy
- Invitational Exhibition of 10 Korean Contemporary Painters, Shinsegye Department Store Gallery, Seoul
1968
- Korean Contemporary Paintings, Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Japan
1967
- ISPAA(International Society of Plastic and Audio- Visual Art) Exhibition, Traveling Seoul, Osaka, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia
1966
- The 10th Contemporary Art Exhibit, Gyeongbokgung Art Museum, Seoul
- The 5th Cultural Freedom Invitational, Yechong Gallert, Seoul
- The 2nd Korean Contemporary Painting Exhibition by 10 Artists, Organized by Joong Ang Daily News Paper, Seoul
- Korean Contemporary Artists Exhibition, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1965
- The 9th Contemporary Art Exhibit, Gyeongbokgung Art Museum, Seoul
- The 8th Bienal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- The 1st Korean National Arts Exhibition, Busan, Korea
- Contemporary Art Exhibition of Far East 6 Countries, Macy’s Department Store Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
1964
- The 2nd Actual Group Show, Gyeongbokgung Art Museum, Seoul
1963
- The 7th Contemporary Art Exhibit, Gyeongbokgung Art Museum, Seoul
- The 2nd Cultural Freedom Invitational, Korean Information Center Gallery, Seoul
1962
- The 6th Contemporary Art Exhibit, Gyeongbokgung Art Museum, Seoul
- The 1st Saigon International Biennale, Saigon, Vietnam
- Exhibition of International Freedom, Gyeongbokgung Art Museum, Seoul
- 33 Korean Contemporary Artists, Ministry of the Cultural Information, Seol
- Korean Contemporary Artists, Manila, The Philippines
1961
- The 10th Korean National Art Exhibition, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul
- The 2nd Paris Youth Biennale, Paris, France
- Exhibition of International Freedom, Tokyo National Stadium Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1960
- The 4th Contemporary Art Exhibition, Gyeongbokgung Art Museum, Seoul
1959
- The 3rd Contemporary Art Exhibition, Gyeongbokgung Art Museum, Seoul
1958
- The 2nd Contemporary Art Exhibition, Gyeongbokgung Art Museum, Seoul
1957
- The 1st Contemporary Art Exhibition, Organized by Chosun Daily Newspaper, Deoksugung Art Museum, Seoul
- Invited Exhibition of Cultural Freedom, Asia Foundation, Seoul
- Korean Contemporary Artists, World House Gallery, New York, U.S.A.
1956
- The 5th Korean National Art Exhibition, National Art Museum, Seoul
1955
- The 4th Korean National Art Exhibition, National Art Museum, Seoul
1954
- The 3rd Korean National Art Exhibition, National Art Museum, Seoul
- Holy Artist Association Exhibition, Midopa Gallery, Seoul
1953
- The 2nd Korean National Art Exhibition, National Art Museum, Seoul
1950
- Graduate Exhibition by College of Fine Arts, Seoul National University, Seoul
public collections
- National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, Korea
- Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul
- Busan Museum of Modern Art, Busan, Korea
- Daejeon Museum of Art, Daejeon, Korea
- Samsung Museum of Art, Leeum, Seoul
- Walkerhill Art Center, Seoul
- Sonje Museum of Contemporary Art, Gyeongju, Korea
- Youngeun Museum, Gwangju, Korea
- HanLim Museum, Daejeon, Korea
- Seoul National University Museum, Seoul
- Korea University Museum, Seoul
- Ewha Womans University Museum, Seoul
- 63 Museum, Seoul
- Royal Nepal Museum, Nepal
- Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
- Mie Prefectural Art Museum, Mie, Japan
- Shimonoseki City Art Museum, Shimonoseki, Japan
- Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, Hiroshima, Japan
awards
1993
- The Order of Korean National Art Merit, Seoul
1987
- Grand Prize, The 13th Joong Ang Cultural Grand Prize, Seoul
1980
- Invited Artist Award, The 29th Korean National Art Exhibition, Seoul
1962
- Bronze Prize and Esso Prize, The 1st Saigon International Biennale, Saigon, Vietnam
1955
- Special Prize, The 4th Korean National Art Exhibition, Seoul
1953
- Special Prize, The 2nd Korean National Art Exhibition, Seoul
1950
- President Prize, Graduate Exhibition by College of Fine Arts, Seoul National University
Career
2010-1993
- Honorary Professor of Seoul National University
1997-1992
- Committee Member and Committee of Judges of Korean Art competition
1993
- Retired from the College of Fine Arts, Seoul National University, Seoul
1993- 1961
- Professor, College of Fine Arts, Seoul National University, Seoul
1988
- Committee Member and Committee of Judges of 88 Seoul Art competition
1984
- Committee Member and Invited Artist of the 10th Seoul Contemporary Art Festival
1981
- Committee of Judges of the 30th Korean National Art Exhibition
1980
- Invited Artist of the 29th Korean National Art Exhibition
1979
- Invited Artist of the 28th Korean National Art Exhibition Committee Member
- Invited Artist of the 5th Seoul Contemporary Art Festival
1978
- Committee of Judges and Invited Artist of the 27th Korean National Art Exhibition
1977
- Invited Artist of the 26th Korean National Art Exhibition Committee Member
- Invited Artist of the 3rd Seoul Contemporary Art Festival
1976
- Committee of Judges and Invited Artist of the 25th Korean National Art Exhibition
- Committee Member and Invited Artist of the 2nd Seoul Contemporary Art Festival
- Committee of Judges of the 3rd Grand Prize Exhibition of Korean art
1975
- Invited Artist of the 24th Korean National Art Exhibition
1974
- Committee of Judges and Invited Artist of the 23rd Korean National Art Exhibition
1973
- Committee of Judges and Invited Artist of the 22nd Korean National Art Exhibition
1972
- Invited Artist of the 21st Korean National Art Exhibition
1970
- Committee of Judges and Invited Artist of the 19th Korean National Art Exhibition
- Mural Painting in Hyeongchungsa
1969
- Recommended Artist of the 18th Korean National Art Exhibition
1968
- Advisor of São Paulo International Exhibition
- Jeoldusan Catholic Cathedral Mural Painting, Seoul
1967
- Director of Korean Fine Arts Association
1965
- Invited Artist and Committee of Judges of the 1st Korean Art Exhibition
1965- 1964
- Mural Painting, Library of college of Education, Seoul National University, Seoul
1962- 1957
- Invited Artist and Committee of Judges of Contemporary Art Exhibit
1961
- Recommended Artist of the 10th Korean National Art Exhibition
1961- 1956
- Teacher, Seoul Arts High School, Seoul
Chung Chang Sup
par Charlotte Waligòra
Figure incontournable de la scène contemporaine coréenne, Chang-Sup Chung sort diplômé de l’école des Beaux-Arts de Séoul en 1951. Ses premières peintures, à l’huile, explorent une part du modernisme occidental ; la question de la forme telle que les cubistes l’avaient envisagé et celle de la matérialité de la peinture que l’art informel d’après-guerre expérimente abondamment. Son œuvre toujours curieuse de l’Occident concourra cependant à forger des caractères identitaires coréens supplantant les empreintes laissées par la domination des cultures sino-japonaises après la libération en 1953.
Dans les années 1970, Chang-Sup Chung co-fonde avec ses contemporains Lee Ufan, Chung Sang-Hwa, Ha Chong-Huyn, Park Seo-Bo, Yun Hyong-Keun, le groupe Dansaekhwa également appelé baeksaekpa, littéralement « l’école du blanc ». On dit que l’esthétique de la porcelaine blanche de la période Joseon (1392-1910), illustrant à sa manière la pensée confucéenne coréenne, caractérisée par sa sobriété et la beauté de ses formes simples, aurait inspiré l’esthétique dite « méditative » au mouvement. Chang-Sup Chung titre parfois certains tableaux de jeunesse White Porcelain.
Les membres de Dansaekhwa pratiquent le monochrome, utilisent une gamme chromatique restreinte de blancs, de noirs et de beiges qui est la couleur même du Hanji utilisée à partir de 1975 par Chang-Sup Chung et qui devient, d’une certaine manière, sa signature. La série Tak – du nom du murier à papier – travaillée dans les années 1980 et inaugurant l’exposition, illustre ce caractère. Le handji ne lui sert pas seulement en tant que matériau intégré au support, il lui sert à former de délicates altérations à la surface de ses applications particulièrement denses qui recouvrent la toile en réalisant des empreintes de ses froissures. Il préserve ainsi la trace mobile du geste et du travail qui délivre, en surface, la charge vibratoire de l’acte créateur.
La série Méditation, inaugurée dans les années 1990, transforme nouvellement son travail de la surface à travers un ensemble de geste plus maitrisés qui lui permettent d’ « ouvrir » la peinture vers « l’espace pure » et monochrome du tableau, suivant le rythme même de l’acte méditatif. La matière et ses altérations recherchées forment le tableau chez Chang-Sup Chung. Elle sédimente le temps de création en faveur du principe de modération ancré dans la philosophie coréenne. Le tableau est amené à sa forme ultime au terme d’un long processus de travail qui s’opère comme une méditation, dont chaque degré d’élévation ou de transformation serait signalé.
À travers cette série, il révèle l’espace pictural en bordant ses compositions d’une zone de matière particulièrement dense, en relief. Il réserve paradoxalement un traitement plus lisse à des « figures » quadrangulaires, monochromes, creusant ainsi l’espace au centre du tableau. Cette bordure correspondrait au seuil des limites physiques inhérentes à la matérialité du monde traversée dans l’art de la méditation comme on traverse ce premier plan pour accéder à l’espace pur de la peinture.
La simplicité apparente de ces compositions, que l’on dit parfois inspirées du minimalisme, questionne ainsi la profondeur infinie du tableau qui équivaut au paysage intérieur. Pour Yoon Jin-sup ; « Ses créations se situent dans une perspective écologique, cosmologique et terrestre diamétralement opposée à celle, formaliste, des Occidentaux ».
La série Méditation fut travaillée par l’artiste jusqu’à son décès en 2011. Elle comporte de nombreuses variations. Les toiles s’organisent presque toujours suivant un rapport binaire entre le premier et l’arrière plan vécu comme abîme soustrayant aux modulations de matières, un travail de la couleur qui annonce à l’infini, au loin, ses sources lumineuses. La série Return, des années 1970, bordant à l’encre noire, l’infini blanc du tableau, constitue la genèse de sa pensée à travers laquelle Chang-Sup Chung invite le regardeur à la contemplation du vide, réceptacle, désormais, de nos propres méditations.
Une telle proposition rejoint celles antérieures formulées par Kasimir Malevitch en 1915, par Yves Klein au milieu des années 1950, par Sam Francis au début des années 1960, qui, tous trois et distinctement, avaient conféré à l’espace pictural monochrome des valeurs spirituelles mais aussi cosmogoniques.
L’œuvre d’art chez Chang-Sup Chung doit être le résultat d’une osmose avec la nature, la création, cette expérience méditative transformatrice dont la durée est parfois restituée par un réseau de lignes compartimentant la toile en carrés, agissant comme des séquences temporelles clairement définies.
Chang-Sup Chung écrit dans ses notes du 19 aout 1992 : « […] mon travail démarre seulement une fois que les méthodes préexistantes, les formes et les normes ont été totalement éliminées. De la même manière qu'un artisan se découvre à travers son travail, je découvre un monde (la réalisation d'une peinture) où toute peinture (intentionnelle) est absente, tout en appréciant la liberté spirituelle liée à l'abandon de toute connaissance, intentions, souvenirs de mon enfance et détails oubliés. Mon espoir et mon désir sont de découvrir un autre moi (à travers ces activités). »t absente, tout en appréciant la liberté spirituelle liée à l'abandon de toute connaissance, intentions, souvenirs de mon enfance et détails oubliés. Mon espoir et mon désir sont de découvrir un autre moi (à travers ces activités). »
2016
CHUNG Chang-Sup
3 novembre 2016 - 21 décembre 2016
hong kong
50 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, 17TH FLOOR - HONG KONG
Meditation
2015
CHUNG Chang-Sup
3 novembre 2015 - 23 décembre 2015
new york
909 Madison Avenue New York
Meditation
CHUNG Chang-Sup
4 juin 2015 - 1 août 2015
paris
76 RUE DE TURENNE 75003 PARIS
Meditation
curateur : Kim Yongdae