Conjunction No. 97-035 1997

This is Ha Chong-Hyun's "Conjunction No. 97-035", and I'm struck by its cool and contemplative presence. Imagine the artist in the studio, pushing paint through the back of the canvas, the gesture repeated over and over until the surface is packed with these little jabs of white. The paint isn't exactly thick, but it's layered, creating a dense field of marks that catch the light. It’s like looking at a field of snow, each flake distinct yet part of a larger whole. I bet Ha was thinking a lot about texture and surface while making this. Each stroke is direct. It must have been a very physical process, almost meditative. I see echoes of other painters who've explored repetition and texture, like Agnes Martin, but with a very different feel, more grounded. It reminds me that painting is always a conversation. Artists build on what came before, pushing ideas forward and finding new ways to see the world. The beauty of painting is that there’s room for everyone.