Year Of Birth

1944

Biography

Chun Kwang Young incorporates elements of both painting and sculpture in his practice. He is best known for his acclaimed Aggregation series: freestanding and wall-hung amalgamations of small, triangular forms wrapped in antique mulberry paper, often tinted with teas or pigment. Born in Hongcheon, South Korea, in 1944, Chun grew up during the end of Japanese colonization and the brutality of the Korean War. In the early 1970s, he moved to the United States to pursue a master’s degree at Philadelphia College of Art, where he was deeply drawn to Abstract Expressionism. The development of Chun’s signature technique was sparked by childhood memories of seeing medicinal herbs wrapped in mulberry paper, tied into small packages and hung from the ceiling of the local doctor’s office. He became intrigued with the idea of merging the techniques, materials, and sentiment of his Korean heritage with the freedom he experienced during his Western education. Chun lives and works in Seongnam, South Korea.