This exhibition showcases over 50 works created during Wook-kyung Choi’s time in the United States spanning about 15 years, from 1963 to1978. Of her 20-year career, these were the formative years during which she truly discovered and expressed her own style. From collages reflecting the influence of Pop Art to black and white paintings bridging modernism and Oriental calligraphy, the artist’s wide range of endeavors revealing the many layers of her stories consistently portrayed her unique compositional style. That is, whilst Dansaekhwa (monochrome painting) movement and Korean Avant-garde were dominant in the Korean art scene during the 60s and 70s, and Choi actively engaged with the socio-political issues of the time as an artist, her works represent a type of Korean art that was not part of the historical mainstream. In particular, Choi’s use of bold colors and collage style compositions show her distinguished style in abstract expression and, furthermore, her affinity to American Abstract Expressionism.
This exhibition was made possible by the artist’s mother who has been playing a monumental role in the archiving processes since Choi’s decease―each finished work has been carefully preserved by her and later distributed among family members.