Hyung-dae Kim
Halo 14, 2014
Acrylic on canvas
40 x 40 inches
Signed, dated, and inscribed by the artist
“Halo” embodies the principles of Dansaekhwa, which began in 1970s South Korea as contemplative, process-driven monochrome abstraction. The artist, Kim Hyung-dae, emphasizes process and materiality by applying acrylic paint to canvas and repeatedly removing it with a tool, creating textures like raked patterns. His acclaimed “Halo” series features repetitive marks and layers, resulting in a meditative monochromatic appearance. This rhythmic application is central to his art and aligns with Dansaekhwa philosophy.
Kim Hyung-dae, born in 1936 in South Korea, established himself as a pioneering figure in abstract art before the rise of Dansaekhwa. In the early 1960s, he gained recognition for his abstract painting ‘Restoration B’ in the Informel style, earning a national art award. This demonstrates that his career as an abstract artist began before Dansaekhwa was fully recognized. His “Halo” series, developed from the 1980s onward, uses an additive layering and peeling process, creating a unique visual experience.
In 2016, a notable exhibition, “Korean Dansaekhwa: The Traces of Four Artists,” was held at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), Korea. This exhibition included a comprehensive retrospective titled the “Korean Contemporary Artists Series: Kim Hyung-Dae Retrospective,” celebrating his fifty-year career. The retrospective showcased works from his early period in Abstract Expressionism, highlighted traditional Korean woodcut aesthetics, and featured his renowned “Halo” series. Additionally, his artwork was exhibited in a special group exhibition titled “Korean Dansaekhwa—The Traces of Four Artists.” In 2015, the Youngeun Museum in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, presented his works as part of the collective exhibition “Following Traces.” His art was also included in the 2003 exhibition “Post-War Abstract in Korea and the West” at the Ho-Am Art Museum, Korea. In 2018, JENNIFER BAAHNG organized a solo exhibition titled “Halo,” which displayed paintings and woodblocks from his distinguished series.
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