With a color palette as rich as his life story, the works of Chae Tongyull are steeped in literary symbolism and rooted in a deep appreciation for romantic adventure. Born in Busan amidst the Korean war of the 1950s, Chae has travelled the world, eventually seeking his fame and fortune within the U.S. In his twenties, he was the founder of the “Idists” movement, an expressionist group based out of New Orleans. Later, he would move to New York city to become one of the only Asian (and only Korean artists) within the East Village art scene of the 1980s, where he was a contemporary of legends such as Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Since 1993, he has travelled and painted extensively within the Himalayas, exploring remote regions in China, Tibet, Nepal, and India. His works gain inspiration from a diverse range of classic artistic and literary traditions: the prose of Shakespeare, mysterious legends from Korean folklore, the eccentric brushstrokes of Chinese Calligraphy master Pa-Ta-Shan-Jen, Buddhist philosophy, and much more. Because of their rich texture and unique subject matter, his art has been praised and collected for its value in straddling both American and South Korean cultural identities, as well as various places in between. Recently, he is also enjoying working on oil transfer drawings.

About 10 years ago on the Annapurna circuit, I was hiking up a steep hill to Gyaru (3702m) when I suddenly heard loud rumbling noises behind me.

As I turned to face Annapurna 2, standing at 7,937 meters from the summit's edge where snow formed a bowl-shaped crater, a breathtaking sight unfolded. A white, fluffy avalanche began its descent, moving slowly and gracefully like a chorus from a Bach composition.

Physical work -<Reclining nude and Annapurna 2>, oil on linen. 130x162cm. 2012. Part of his “Himalaya” series.

With a color palette as rich as his life story, the works of Chae Tongyull are steeped in literary symbolism and rooted in a deep appreciation for romantic adventure. Born in Busan amidst the Korean war of the 1950s, Chae has travelled the world, eventually seeking his fame and fortune within the U.S. In his twenties, he was the founder of the “Idists” movement, an expressionist group based out of New Orleans. Later, he would move to New York city to become one of the only Asian (and only Korean artists) within the East Village art scene of the 1980s, where he was a contemporary of legends such as Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Since 1993, he has travelled and painted extensively within the Himalayas, exploring remote regions in China, Tibet, Nepal, and India. His works gain inspiration from a diverse range of classic artistic and literary traditions: the prose of Shakespeare, mysterious legends from Korean folklore, the eccentric brushstrokes of Chinese Calligraphy master Pa-Ta-Shan-Jen, Buddhist philosophy, and much more. Because of their rich texture and unique subject matter, his art has been praised and collected for its value in straddling both American and South Korean cultural identities, as well as various places in between. Recently, he is also enjoying working on oil transfer drawings.

About 10 years ago on the Annapurna circuit, I was hiking up a steep hill to Gyaru (3702m) when I suddenly heard loud rumbling noises behind me.

As I turned to face Annapurna 2, standing at 7,937 meters from the summit's edge where snow formed a bowl-shaped crater, a breathtaking sight unfolded. A white, fluffy avalanche began its descent, moving slowly and gracefully like a chorus from a Bach composition.

Physical work -<Reclining nude and Annapurna 2>, oil on linen. 130x162cm. 2012. Part of his “Himalaya” series.