YUN HYONG-KEUN

In December 1980, Yun departed for Paris, driven by frustration and anger over the unstable political climate by the militarydictatorship in Korea. There/While in Paris, he sought to objectively assess whether the concept of “The Gate of Heavenand Earth” that he had been exploring could achieve a unique independence and universal sensibility within the Europeanart context. Working within the constraints of a narrow studio space in Paris, Yun took a slightly different approach.Previously, he had achieved unity and painterly balance between heaven and earth by smearing diluted paint on the rawsurfaces of linen or cotton. While maintaining the same paint and technique, he also aimed to provide a more meticulousexposition of his artistic intentions by incorporating Korean traditional material, hanji. After approximately a year and a halfin Paris, Yun returned to Korea with increased confidence in the content and language of his paintings.

Yun’s second association with Paris occurred in 2002 when he held a solo exhibition at Galerie Jean Brolly. During his visitto Korea, the art dealer Jean Brolly provided Yun with an apartment in Paris, where he stayed for three months to createlarge-scale paintings intended for display at Galerie Jean Brolly in the same fall. Having solidified his artistic approach andstructure with confidence after encountering Donald Judd- in 1991, Yun was able to demonstrate mature and deeperoutcomes in the Paris exhibition. While the essence of his painting was delicately embodied in small hanji screens duringhis initial period in Paris in the early 1980s, it was more boldly and powerfully captured on large canvases during his secondParis period in the early 2000s.

Paris is anticipating hosting the Olympics this year and is reclaiming its position as the center of contemporary art globally,following in the footsteps of New York and London. Yun’s solo exhibition at David Zwirner Paris in early 2023 garneredsignificant attention. Presenting Yun’s works created before, during, and after his time in Paris at this juncture will providean opportunity to observe the transformation of his art from an international and fresh perspective.