Conjunction 09-52 2009

Ha Chong-Hyun made Conjunction 09-52, a large painting, whose surface has such a unique texture with its vertical rivulets of paint over the neutral color of the canvas. I can imagine Ha Chong-Hyun working on it: he applied the white paint from above, probably in multiple layers, allowing it to drip and pool, each gesture a kind of meditation. It's like he's conducting a controlled experiment with gravity and viscosity. I wonder if he ever felt like he was wrestling with the paint, trying to coax it into behaving in a certain way? The artist must have felt like they were in tune with the materials, letting them speak and have their say! That tension at the top of each panel makes me think of the work of artists like Agnes Martin or Robert Ryman. The simple language of the monochrome to speak with such a unique and strong voice. It shows how painting can be an ongoing conversation, always finding new ways to explore its potential.