The Facts
On August 28, 2026, Lisson Gallery announced an exhibition of works by Korean artist Ha Chong-Hyun, featuring his 'back-pressure method' paintings, to open in London in September. Ha, 91, developed the technique in the early 1970s, applying oil paint to the back of hemp fabric and pushing it through the weave, titling each work 'Conjunction' with a date. The show opens the day before his first North American museum retrospective at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. Max Bossier, Lisson's director, called the technique 'really revolutionary' and said recognition of Dansaekhwa has accelerated over the past decade.
The Signal
The exhibition underscores sustained international demand for Dansaekhwa, which has moved from historical footnote to blue-chip market category. For collectors, Ha's method-driven abstractions offer a distinctive entry point into Korean post-war art, distinct from Western minimalism despite visual parallels with Robert Ryman. Lisson's pairing of the London show with the San Francisco retrospective signals a coordinated push to cement Ha's legacy in the American museum canon, a step that typically precedes further institutional and market validation.
- Artists: Ha Chong-Hyun, Lee Ufan, Park Seo-Bo, Robert Ryman
- People: Max Bossier
- Galleries: Lisson Gallery
- Museums: Asian Art Museum
- Locations: London, San Francisco
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