Chun Kwang Young

Chun Kwang Young is renowned internationally for his unique artistic practice. His innovative 'aggregations' feature thousands of triangular wedges wrapped in Korean mulberry paper, blending painting and sculpture into futuristic, lunar landscapes.

Biography of Chun Kwang Young

Chun Kwang Young was born in 1944 in Hongchun, South Korea. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Hongik University in Seoul and a Master of Fine Arts from the Philadelphia College of Art.

He was named Artist of the Year by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul (2001) and received the Presidential Prize in the 41st Korean Culture and Art Prize from the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (2009).

In July 2006, Chun Kwang Young spent three weeks at STPI creating paper cast works and etching monoprints.

In 2014, he published "Mulberry Mindscapes," a monograph that explores the depth and variety of his five-decade artistic career.

His solo exhibitions have been held at various galleries and museums worldwide, including Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Tang Contemporary Art, Museum Ground, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Beck & Eggeling Gallery, PKM Gallery, Pearl Lam Galleries, and many more. 

Currently, the artist lives and works in South Korea.

Chun Kwang Young's Art Style

Chun Kwang Young is a renowned Korean artist celebrated for his intricate paper sculptures. He employs natural dyes to color mulberry paper, creating a sense of organic authenticity. Chun's paper-working techniques explore themes of harmony and conflict.

Before adopting mulberry paper in 1995, Chun Kwang Young's painting style was influenced by American and European Abstract Expressionism.

His iconic Aggregation series, composed of triangular elements from discarded books, exemplifies his ability to transform discarded materials into powerful works of art. Over time, Chun's Aggregations have become more colorful and complex, but mulberry paper remains central to his practice. While rooted in Korean tradition, his intricate, abstract compositions are firmly grounded in contemporary art.