Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink painting by Chung Chang-Sup. It dates from 1977 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1977, this work consists of a sheet of hand‑made mulberry paper adhered to a canvas support and outlined by a thick, irregular dark band. The paper’s off‑white surface bears visible creases, folds and a coarse texture that contrasts with the surrounding canvas, inviting close inspection of its materiality.
Subject & Meaning
Absent of representational imagery, the piece foregrounds the physical qualities of the paper itself, suggesting a meditation on surface, void and the passage of time. The stark border frames the central plane, emphasizing the tension between the cultivated interior and the raw, unrefined edge.
Technique & Style
The artist employed traditional Korean hanji, a mulberry‑based paper, treating it with a pulp mixture known as tak to achieve a textured, uneven field. Ink was applied sparingly, primarily to define the surrounding border, allowing the natural fibers and their inherent irregularities to dominate the visual experience.
History & Provenance
The work belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, acquired as part of its holdings of post‑war Korean abstraction. It marks a pivotal moment when the artist, previously recognized for oil paintings commissioned by state programs, fully embraced hanji‑based practices that would define his later career.
Context
Emerging from the Dansaekhwa movement, the piece reflects a broader Korean avant‑garde interest in material experimentation and the reduction of form to elemental gestures. By foregrounding indigenous paper and ink, the artist aligned his practice with a cultural re‑evaluation of traditional media within contemporary abstract discourse.
Artist & collection
Artist
Chung Chang-sup (Korean: 정창섭; 1927 – 2011) was a Korean abstract painter and an early member of the post‑war art movement Dansaekhwa (Monochrome Painting).
