Choi Kyung Han (1932-2017) graduated from the Department of Painting at the College of Fine Arts, Seoul National University in 1956. He taught arts at Kyunggi High School from 1957 to 1965 and was appointed as a professor of Western painting at the College of Fine Arts, Seoul Women’s University from 1965 to 1998. He held solo exhibitions such as 《Choi Kyung Han》 (Seoul Gallery, Seoul, 1988), 《Choi Kyung Han》 (Chosun Ilbo Gallery, Seoul, 1992), and 《Choi Kyung Han》 (Hakgojae Gallery, Seoul, 2001). He participated in group exhibitions including 《Engagement》 (Korean National Library Gallery, Seoul, 1961), 《Asia Contemporary Art Exhibition》 (Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan, 1975), 《Korean Contemporary Art Invitation Exhibition》 (National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art [MMCA], Gwacheon, 1981-1992), and the 《Breath Of Chang Ucchin II―Engagement 2017》 (Chang Ucchin Museum of Art Yangju City, Yangju, 2017). He won an award at the 2nd International Festival of Painting Cagnes-sur-Mer in 1970, the 3rd Lee Joong-seop Art Award in 1991, and the Order of Civil Merit, Peony Medal in 1998.
Choi Kyung Han participated as a founding member of the art group ENGAGEMENT formed in 1961 and served as the head of the Chang Uc Chin Memorial Project Foundation due to his special relationship with his teacher Chang Uc Chin when he was a student at the College of Fine Arts, Seoul National University. Choi Kyung Han’s works follow a typical form of abstract painting yet incorporate the scenery of the world he sees. As wise men of ancient East Asia embraced and represented the principles of nature through the practice of meditation, Choi embodies the nature he deems through his artistic spiritual vision. In other words, Choi’s paintings are abstract expressions of all of the elements of nature, human joy and sorrow, and touch upon feelings filtered through his mind.
