press release

Gallery Doll is pleased to present Korean Moon, a solo exhibition by Jae Chun Ryu, an artist who blends traditional Korean ink painting with contemporary sensibilities. Centered around the recurring image of the moon, Ryu’s work speaks in a visual language that meditates upon time, memory, and the enduring spirit of the natural world.

The luminous and expansive moon dominates Ryu’s compositions. It hovers above mountain ranges, floats across water, or rests at the center of the picture plane. Through bold brushwork and nuanced gradations of ink, Ryu captures the simultaneous stillness and flow found in nature and in life itself. Transcending reproduction, these scenes are reflections of the artist’s emotional and spiritual connection to Mother Earth.

Having studied Oriental painting at Sungkyunkwan University and earned a doctorate in Fine Arts from Dongguk University, Ryu has long explored the techniques and philosophical underpinnings of Korean painting. She often experiments with abstraction, simplifying forms while transforming the moon into a distinctly tactile and sensory metaphor for both personal insight and collective longing.

In recent years, Ryu has extended her practice into the realm of media art. Her work has been featured in large-scale media façade exhibitions at COEX and The Hyundai, as well as internationally at CES in Las Vegas. By combining traditional ink painting on hanji with LED lighting and digital formats, she reimagines how Korean painting can exist in contemporary contexts while maintaining its cultural roots.

At the heart of this exhibition is a vision of resilience, beauty, and continuity. Inviting spectators into a space of contemplation and quiet hope, Ryu’s work affirms that tradition and innovation are not opposing forces, but partners in shaping the evolving landscape of Korean art.

At a glance

all images © the gallery and the artist.