LA Art Show Highlights ‘Dansaekhwa’- Korean Monochrome Paintings

The 2017 LA Art Show, the most comprehensive art experience in the West Coast, is coming in two weeks.

The event, which celebrates its 22nd anniversary, will be held from January 11th through the 15th at the West Hall in Los Angeles Convention Center. LA Art Show 2017 features the broadest international program with over 90 leading galleries from over 18 countries participating. The event focuses on Latin American Art, which strong presentations from Europa, China, Cuba, Japan and South Korea as well.

One of the main exhibitions is “Dansaekhwa III: Formation and Recurrence,” which features the multilayered monochromes of Kim Tae-Ho and the iconic water drop paintings of Kim Tschang-Yeul, who has been painting this fluid life force for more than four decades. The exhibition is curated by SM Fine Art Gallery in New York and will be located at the center of the venue.

Kim Tschang-Yeul has spent almost half a century painting under one motif: water drops. Now 86, the renowned “water drop painter” will displays his original-styled paintings this time. Kim Tae-Ho will exhibit the paintings with multilayered colors to express the flow and rhythm of mind.

Korean artists have been taking a large part of the event. In 2014, special exhibition “Korea Connection” displayed Korean arts from 15 galleries, directed by Lee Hoo-Jung curator. Since 2015 the ‘Dansaekhwa’ exhibitions have been on display – ‘Dansaekhwa II (2016)’ and ‘Dansaekhwa III: Formation and Recurrence (2017)’.

9 Korean galleries joined LA Art Show last year, and this year 12 Korean galleries highlight the show: SM Fine Art gallery (New York), PYO Gallery (Los Angeles), Art All Ways (Los Angeles), Baik Art (Los Angeles), CMay Gallery (Los Angeles), gallery CL (Los Angeles), Asian Art Works (Peking), Mookji Art (Peking), Gallery D’Arte (New York), Gallery Koo (Seoul, Korea), Simyo Gallery (Seoul, Korea), We Gallery (Seoul, Korea).

Widely considered as one of the most influential Korean art movements of the 20th century, Dansaekhwa is rooted in mesmerizing abstractions. Though the methods and media vary greatly across the monochromatic genre, works are typically rendered by pushing layers of white, black, blue, or earth-toned paints across soaked canvases or dragging pencils across pieces of traditional hanji paper. While eliciting notions of austerity and tranquility, the rigorous workmanship presents behind.

Kim Tae-Ho was a leading light among the first generation of Korean monochrome practitioners along with Ha Chong-Hyun, Chung Sang-Hwa, Lee Ufan and Park Seobo.

“After seeing a museum show about Dansaekhwa in Seoul five years ago I’ve been closely following Korean monochrome painting. I was very fortunate to give the movement its first platform at an international art fair with an inaugural exhibition at the LA Art Show 2015,” says Kim Martindale, general manager and producer of the LA Art Show. “Since that time we’ve seen a wave of museum and gallery shows in the US and abroad along with auction records for many of the movement’s top pioneers.”

The Opening Night Premiere Party of LA Art Show 2017 will be held on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at 7 pm. The show starts on Thursday, January 12 and continues through Sunday, January 15 (11am – 7pm, Sun 11 am – 5 pm).

• LOCATION
  Los Angeles Convention Center
  1201 South Figueroa Street West Hall
  Los Angeles, CA 90015
• WEBSITE: http://www.laartshow.com/
• CONTACT: Info@laartshow.com

Original article by Yina Yoo from Korea Daily Los Angeles
Translated by Narae Lee