Korean abstract art at Villa Empain, Brussels

Villa Empain, a jewel of Brussels' Art Deco architectural heritage now restored as a centre for art and dialogue between the cultures of the East and the West, presents an exhibition of contemporary Korean abstract art. 'When Process becomes Form' runs to April 24th 2016.

When Process becomes Form is the first comprehensive presentation in Belgium of a number of seminal works by a generation of Korean artists whose negotiation of abstraction has become known as Dansaekhwa.

The exhibition consists of some 50 paintings and works of paper drawn from the 1970s and the 1980s, along with a substantial array of archival materials. Working at the crossroads of diverse stylistic negotiations and within a politically and socially charged context, the seven featured artists in this exhibition Lee Ufan, Chung Chang-Sup, Park Seo-Bo, Kwon Young-Woo, Ha Chong-Hyun, Kim Whanki and Chung Sang-Hwa, employed abstraction as a means of synthesis and innovation.

In doing so, they have succeeded in articulating a distinct visual language that championed form and material over the outright political expression. Their use of pattern and repetition stems from an emphasis on their process-driven approach that places the “act of making” at the very heart of their artistic practice. Transcending the specificities of political and social conflicts, these works present the viewer with a timeless and universal visual language.

About Villa Empain

A centre for art and dialogue between the cultures of the East and the West.

Creating in Brussels a centre for art and dialogue between the cultures of the East and the West in the context of the famous Villa Empain is one of the primary objectives of the Boghossian Foundation. This Centre is destined to enrich and facilitate reciprocal discoveries between East and West, as well as fulfilling further ambitions : cultural, artistic, educational, scientific, as well as animating features highlighting the links that strengthen this dialogue.

In 2006 the foundation acquired the Villa Empain. This jewel of Brussels’ Art Deco architectural heritage had fallen into disuse and disrepair. The Foundation decided to fully renovated the Villa, making it a centre of art and dialogue between the cultures of the East and the West, as well as the headquarters of the family foundation.

The Villa Empain opened its doors to the public in 2010 and has since then hosted exhibitions, conferences, international meetings and other activities all year round. The Boghossian Foundation also finances social, educational, artistic and environmental projects. Top image: Lee Ufan, From line, 1978, mixed media on canvas, 193.5 x 259 cm © Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art