STATEMENT

I explore traditional Korean motifs—flowers, animals, and calligraphy—immersing myself in their histories and the symbolism they carry. By reframing these auspicious forms through a diasporic lens, I connect with notions of homeland while tracing how their meanings evolve within contemporary contexts.

My practice spans from drawing on hanji (Korean mulberry paper) to large-scale installations composed of suspended, cut parchment and painted canvas. I layer matte and metallic pigments, brushed contours, and cast shadows to form visual compositions that transform with the viewer’s movement. These perceptual changes reflect the fragility inherent in my exploration into my heritage and my connections with my ancestors.

In mapping memory through texture and material nuance, I aim to capture the longing born from distance as I navigate traditional forms. This approach positions my work as both inquiry and platform—a space to wander, a world that feels simultaneously near and far.


BIO

Aaron Chung (b. San Francisco, CA 1990, lives in Queens, New York) received his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2013 with a painting major and art history minor. His multidisciplinary works explore themes of identity, Art History, and his experiences within the Korean American diaspora.

Chung received a Fulbright Fellowship in 2013 to research muninhwa (traditional Korean literati painting) and classical ink drawing techniques on mulberry paper. He also participated in an artist residency in Onishi Gunma, Japan, at Shiro Oni Studio, where he explored themes inspired by Junichiro Tanizaki's essay, In Praise of Shadows. 

His work has been included in exhibitions at the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition (New York, NY); IMUR Gallery at Salmagundi (New York, NY); Hana Makgeolli (New York, NY); Golden Hof (New York, NY); Culture House DC (Washington, DC); Paul Thiebaud Gallery (San Francisco, CA); Ryan Art Gallery (Los Angeles, CA); Subbasement Artist Studios (Baltimore, MD); Current Space (Baltimore, MD); and the Maryland Institute College of Art (Baltimore, MD). Internationally, he has exhibited at the Kana Art Festival (Gunma, Japan), Topohaus Art Gallery (Seoul, South Korea), and United Gallery (Seoul, South Korea).

Chung maintains an active studio practice, exhibits and curates in New York, and is a member of the Korean American Artist Collective (KAAC).
 

Photo Credit: Nora Truskey