I am glad I got to speak to David Chung before he leaves for Harvard next semester to be the Kim Koo Visiting Professor (named for the Korean independence leader) in the Department of Visual and Environmental Studies.
David has three distinct studio practices which are separate but nevertheless influence one another: drawing, animation, and printmaking. They often merge together in his installation work.
Currently he is working on a huge piece, (the location of which is a secret as of now.) The piece references Buddhist temples, specifically temples that exist in rural areas in Korea, where local artisans and laymen create with a more folkloric aesthetic. Approximately half of the people in South Korea are Buddhist. David’s temple is filled with contemporary imagery, like cars, cups of soda, and
David’s prints right now are influenced by a technique he uses at the Handprint Workshop in Alexandria Va. Using ink, wax, oil paint and glass beads, these prints are constructed one at a time with assistance from the other artists working at the workshop. The transparent wax base allows the oil color to float on top, while the reductive process of scraping and buffing, shapes and blends the color to create the final image.
He’s also working on an animation that will be all handdrawn- check out this beautiful set!
