Work 74-05 1975

Ha Chong-Hyun made 'Work 74-05' at a time when painting was going through it, like, what even *is* painting? It's all muted browns and cream here, making for a tight, reticent palette. It feels repetitive and meditative, like a visual mantra. I can imagine Ha Chong-Hyun in his studio, methodically pressing paint through the back of the canvas. It's almost sculptural, this pushing and pulling. Are those marks emerging or receding? It feels like the surface is breathing, like the painting has its own secret language. It reminds me a little bit of the restrained energy of Agnes Martin. Painting’s weird, right? It’s never really "over," it just keeps shapeshifting and talking back to itself! Each artist has their own way of doing this.