Kim Tschang-yeul

(Korean, 1929–2021)

Kim Tschang-Yeul is contemporary Korean artist known for his painted depictions of water droplets. This motif stems from traditions of Eastern philosophy, acting both as a therapy for the artist’s traumatic memories and a meditation on eternity. “My water drop paintings are accomplished under the encounters of my life experiences and my plasticizing experiences,” he explained. “Each clear, impeccable water drop is in its initial state since purification, as if it is a recurrence of absolute nothingness; the water drop is also what it finally returns to.” Born on December 24, 1929 in Maengsan, Korea, he served in the military during the Korean War, his experiences of war continue to haunt the artist’s life and work. Kim studied at the College of Fine Arts at Seoul National University before helping to found the Korean Art Informel movement in the mid-1950s, alongside Park Seo-Bo, Ha Chong-Hyun, and Chung Chang-Sup. Moving to New York in 1966, Kim attended the Art Students League for a few years before relocating to Paris. His exposure to international movements and schools of thought while abroad, led to his exploration of liquid forms, whose appearance straddles the boundary of abstraction and representation. In 2016, the Kim Tschang-Yeul Museum of Art opened in Jeju, South Korea, in honor of his life’s work. Kim lives and works between Seoul, South Korea and Paris, France. The artist’s works are held in the collections of the Albright-Knox Gallery in Buffalo, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., the Seoul Museum of Art, and the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, among others.

Kim Tschang-yeul Artworks

Kim Tschang-yeul (39 results)
Ceremonie, ca. 1994

Kim Tschang-yeul

Ceremonie, ca. 1994

Almine Rech

Price on Request

Waterdrops, 2006

Kim Tschang-yeul

Waterdrops, 2006

Tina Kim Gallery

Price on Request

Waterdrops, 1987

Kim Tschang-yeul

Waterdrops, 1987

Almine Rech

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Recurrence, 2008

Kim Tschang-yeul

Recurrence, 2008

Tina Kim Gallery

Price on Request

Recurrence

Kim Tschang-yeul

Recurrence

Dep Art Gallery

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Composition, 1969

Kim Tschang-yeul

Composition, 1969

Tina Kim Gallery

Price on Request

Waterdrops, 1984

Kim Tschang-yeul

Waterdrops, 1984

Tina Kim Gallery

Price on Request

Waterdrops, 1979

Kim Tschang-yeul

Waterdrops, 1979

Almine Rech

Price on Request

Neige, 2003

Kim Tschang-yeul

Neige, 2003

Almine Rech

Price on Request

Waterdrops, ca. 1974

Kim Tschang-yeul

Waterdrops, ca. 1974

Almine Rech

Price on Request

Recurrence, 1994–2014

Kim Tschang-yeul

Recurrence, 1994–2014

Almine Rech

Price on Request

Waterdrops, 2006

Kim Tschang-yeul

Waterdrops, 2006

Almine Rech

Price on Request

Recurrence, 2010

Kim Tschang-yeul

Recurrence, 2010

Almine Rech

Price on Request

Goutte d'eau, 1990

Kim Tschang-yeul

Goutte d'eau, 1990

Almine Rech

Price on Request

Goutte d'eau, ca. 1985

Kim Tschang-yeul

Goutte d'eau, ca. 1985

Almine Rech

Price on Request

Gouttes d'eau, 1984

Kim Tschang-yeul

Gouttes d'eau, 1984

Almine Rech

Price on Request

Gouttes d’eau, 1983

Kim Tschang-yeul

Gouttes d’eau, 1983

Almine Rech

Price on Request

Gouttes d'eau, 1989

Kim Tschang-yeul

Gouttes d'eau, 1989

Almine Rech

Price on Request

Waterdrops, 1987

Kim Tschang-yeul

Waterdrops, 1987

Almine Rech

Price on Request

Waterdrops, 1996

Kim Tschang-yeul

Waterdrops, 1996

Almine Rech

Price on Request

Waterdrops, 1985

Kim Tschang-yeul

Waterdrops, 1985

Almine Rech

Price on Request

Recurrence, 1996

Kim Tschang-yeul

Recurrence, 1996

Almine Rech

Price on Request

Waterdrops, ca. 1980

Kim Tschang-yeul

Waterdrops, ca. 1980

Almine Rech

Price on Request

Waterdrops, 2009

Kim Tschang-yeul

Waterdrops, 2009

Tina Kim Gallery

Price on Request