Sunghyun Moon

Sunghyun Moon (Korean, b.1970) is an abstract artist, working in watercolor. As a contemporary non-objective painter, Moon has always been inspired by nature. The artist presents his work as “serenely illustrating the landscape,” though his work process is anything but serene. Laying his paper on the floor, he applies a base color, dashes paint on top, and makes quick brush strokes, repeating this process over and over until the desired texture and color saturation has been achieved. The impromptu movements of the artist in combination with the coincidental effects of light and shade create atmospheres that appear light and airy or dark and imposing. In Moon’s paintings, brush strokes and line become indistinguishable; forming masses of colorful, yet seemingly boundless pictorial planes. Shading accentuates the swelling depths of the artist’s non-figurative images, while also creating a visual tension for viewers. Moon dedicates most of his time and efforts at establishing a foundation and balancing the composition of the overall work. While his dynamic process is borrowed from Western art historical methods, his focus on the natural world is clearly Eastern-influenced.

Sunghyun Moon received his MFA at Chung-Ang University. He has had numerous solo exhibitions and received several prestigious awards in Seoul, South Korea. Currently based in both Seoul and Paris, France, he is also a member of the Korean Fine Arts Association