Olyaa Gallery Unveils "Echoes of Nature": A Monumental Solo Exhibition and Residency by Korean Hanji Master Youngsup Han
NEW YORK, July 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Olyaa Gallery proudly presents "Echoes of Nature," an immersive solo exhibition and artist residency by acclaimed South Korean artist Youngsup Han, whose five-decade career redefines contemporary art through the ancient techniques of Hanji (traditional Korean paper) and Takbon (rubbing method). This exhibition marks a milestone in the gallery's programming, offering rare insight into Han's meditative process and timeless visual language.
"Youngsup Han's work reminds us that true innovation often lies in returning to the essence," said Annie Kim, Director & Co-Founder, Olyaa Gallery. "We are honored to host an artist whose practice bridges centuries of tradition with a vision that speaks directly to the contemporary soul."
Using paper, pigment, and pressure, Han turns nature's smallest gestures—the shadow of grass, the texture of bark, the glint of light on a pebble—into compositions of emotional and spiritual resonance. His reinterpretation of frottage draws from Eastern philosophy and an intuitive connection to nature.
"What Han offers is not an overt declaration, but a refined, sustained dialogue with nature… a new aesthetic realm where the visible and invisible coexist in silent harmony." — Lee Soon, Monthly Art
Career Highlights:
- Three-time award winner, Osaka Triennale (1990, 1993, 1996)
- Prize of Excellence, Hyogo International Competition of Painting (2005)
- Named one of the 100 Contemporary Korean Artists by the Korea Critics Association (2017)
- Exhibited at the National Museum of Contemporary Art (Korea), Hanbyeokwon Museum, and Solomon Guggenheim Museum (2023)
Han's process—layering raw Hanji over bark, twigs, and stone—extracts the essence of the material world. His signature "tapping method" transcends technique, evolving into a meditative ritual that transforms nature's subtle energies into tangible form.
"Echoes of Nature" includes large-scale icons and new works inspired by Han's U.S. travels, drawing parallels between rural Korea and the American landscape.
"The overwhelming physical presence of his work delivers not noise, but quiet resonance… a tremendous silence felt in the echo of nature." — Hanbyeokwon Museum
About the Gallery
Founded by Annie Kim, and with a team of Esther Kim, Heajin Lee, and Amy Rosado, Olyaa Gallery showcases artists whose practices intersect tradition, innovation, and cultural dialogue. Located at 704 76th Street, North Bergen, NJ. Open Tues–Sat, 11AM–5PM. Free admission.
Contact: info@olyaagallery.com | 201-450-1298
Upcoming Event: Art Fair with North Bergen Township, July 26–27, 2025.
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SOURCE Olyaa Gallery