Biography

UM Tai-Jung(b.1938) is one of the Korean abstract sculpture's first generation pioneers. Since his fascination with the materiality of steel during his undergraduate studies at Seoul National University in the early 1960s, Um has devoted himself to metal sculpture and investigated materials and resources throughout his career that continues to the present. In 1967, he caught the art world's attention as his emblematic steel sculpture A Scream won the Prime Minister's Prize in the 16th National Art Exhibition, and in the seventies he presented copper sculptures that revealed a remarkable contrast between the material's internal and external sides in terms of color and texture. In the 1980-90s, Um's abstract copper sculptures with a prominent vertical structure referred to Eastern philosophy concerning the ideas of the celestial and worldly, as exemplified by his Heaven, Earth, and Human, and the 90s' Bronze-Object-Age series reflected the shapes of Korean traditional wood furniture and pillars. From 2000s on, Um has been putting more emphasis on form-based works made of aluminum boards and steel frames that illustrate coexistence and reconciliation of mutually exclusive elements-such as Yin and Yang, and time and space-through the formal language of the vertical and horizontal, sculptural qualities of lines and planes, and harmonious palette of silver and black.

 

UM Tai-Jung graduated from the Department of Sculpture in College of Fine Arts at Seoul National University, studied at Saint Martin's School of Art in London, and held positions as a research professor at Berlin Fine Arts University and professor in the Department of Sculpture in College of Fine Arts at Seoul National University. He was awarded the Prime Minister's Prize from the National Art Exhibition (1967), Grand Prize from the Korean Art Grand-Prix Exhibition (1971), and Mirok Li Prize from the 7th Mirok Li Award (2012). Starting with a solo exhibition at Gwangju Gallery (1972), he has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions including the 12th Biennale de Sao Paulo (1973), Woodstock Art Gallery (1980), Georg Kolbe Museum (2005), and Sungkok Art Museum (2009). Recently, he held his solo exhibition at Arario Gallery Seoul I Samcheong and Cheonan (2019). In 2004, he was appointed Emeritus Professor at Seoul National University, and since 2013, he has served as a member of The National Academy of Arts of the Republic of Korea.

Works
  • UM Tai-Jung, A Thousand Brilliant- The Mogao Caves Period I 1000개의 찬란한-막고굴 시대 I, 2025
    A Thousand Brilliant- The Mogao Caves Period I 1000개의 찬란한-막고굴 시대 I, 2025
  • UM Tai-Jung, A Thousand Brilliant- The Mogao Caves Period II 1000개의 찬란한- 막고굴 시대 II, 2025
    A Thousand Brilliant- The Mogao Caves Period II 1000개의 찬란한- 막고굴 시대 II, 2025
  • UM Tai-Jung, Drawing-Night Scene-1 드로잉-밤의 풍경-1, 2025
    Drawing-Night Scene-1 드로잉-밤의 풍경-1, 2025
  • UM Tai-Jung, Drawing-Night Scene-2 드로잉-밤의 풍경-2, 2025
    Drawing-Night Scene-2 드로잉-밤의 풍경-2, 2025
  • UM Tai-Jung, Drawing-Night Scene-4 드로잉-밤의 풍경-4, 2025
    Drawing-Night Scene-4 드로잉-밤의 풍경-4, 2025
  • UM Tai-Jung, Mandala-Dharma-Endless Column 만다라-법열-무한주, 2025
    Mandala-Dharma-Endless Column 만다라-법열-무한주, 2025
  • UM Tai-Jung, Mandala-Sky-Endless Column 만다라-하늘-무한주, 2025
    Mandala-Sky-Endless Column 만다라-하늘-무한주, 2025
  • UM Tai-Jung, Mandala-Sky-The Milky Way 만다라-은하수, 2025
    Mandala-Sky-The Milky Way 만다라-은하수, 2025
  • UM Tai-Jung, The Stranger's Sanctuary – Silver Veil Appearance I, Appearance II, Appearance III 낯선자의 은신처-은빛 베일 출현 I, 출현 II, 출현 III, 2025
    The Stranger's Sanctuary – Silver Veil Appearance I, Appearance II, Appearance III 낯선자의 은신처-은빛 베일 출현 I, 출현 II, 출현 III, 2025
  • UM Tai-Jung, The Stranger's Sanctuary – Titan's Silver Veil- Where the Iron Deity Walks the Sky 낯선자의 은신처 티탄의 은빛 베일-철인은 하늘을 걷는다, 2025
    The Stranger's Sanctuary – Titan's Silver Veil- Where the Iron Deity Walks the Sky 낯선자의 은신처 티탄의 은빛 베일-철인은 하늘을 걷는다, 2025
  • UM Tai-Jung, 머무르라, 밤 하늘의 은총, 2020
    머무르라, 밤 하늘의 은총, 2020
  • UM Tai-Jung, A Meditative Space, 2018
    A Meditative Space, 2018
  • UM Tai-Jung, A Peaceful Space, 2018
    A Peaceful Space, 2018
  • UM Tai-Jung, A Stranger Holding Two Wings, 2018
    A Stranger Holding Two Wings, 2018
  • UM Tai-Jung, Endless Column - Mandala, 2018
    Endless Column - Mandala, 2018
  • UM Tai-Jung, Heaven is Round, Earth is Round, and Man is Round, 2018
    Heaven is Round, Earth is Round, and Man is Round, 2018
  • UM Tai-Jung, Mentality 정신, 2018
    Mentality 정신, 2018
  • UM Tai-Jung, Serene Wall & I, 2018
    Serene Wall & I, 2018
  • UM Tai-Jung, Route of Pilgrimage - Kaaba, No. 1, 2015
    Route of Pilgrimage - Kaaba, No. 1, 2015
  • UM Tai-Jung, Route of Pilgrimage - Kaaba, No. 2, 2015
    Route of Pilgrimage - Kaaba, No. 2, 2015
  • UM Tai-Jung, Sojourner-Wanderer 객정-방랑자, 2014
    Sojourner-Wanderer 객정-방랑자, 2014
  • UM Tai-Jung, Sojourner-Dance 객정-춤, 2013
    Sojourner-Dance 객정-춤, 2013
  • UM Tai-Jung, Place of Wisdom, 2009
    Place of Wisdom, 2009
  • UM Tai-Jung, A Line of Altitude & Longitude - Way, 2008
    A Line of Altitude & Longitude - Way, 2008
  • UM Tai-Jung, Untitled 3, 2008
    Untitled 3, 2008
  • UM Tai-Jung, Untitled 06-2 , 2006
    Untitled 06-2 , 2006
  • UM Tai-Jung, Untitled 06-88, 2006
    Untitled 06-88, 2006
  • UM Tai-Jung, Cubic Totem House No. 9, 2005
    Cubic Totem House No. 9, 2005
  • UM Tai-Jung, A Silence of the Earth, 2004
    A Silence of the Earth, 2004
  • UM Tai-Jung, Presence of Space 04-1 공간의 존재 04-1, 2004
    Presence of Space 04-1 공간의 존재 04-1, 2004
  • UM Tai-Jung, Presence of Space 04-2 공간의 존재 04-2, 2004
    Presence of Space 04-2 공간의 존재 04-2, 2004
  • UM Tai-Jung, Cubic Staircase No. 3, 2003
    Cubic Staircase No. 3, 2003
  • UM Tai-Jung, Drifting Sojourner-1 떠다니는 객정(客亭)-1, 2002
    Drifting Sojourner-1 떠다니는 객정(客亭)-1, 2002
  • UM Tai-Jung, Drifting Sojourner-2 떠다니는 객정(客亭)-2, 2002
    Drifting Sojourner-2 떠다니는 객정(客亭)-2, 2002
  • UM Tai-Jung, Presence of Space 공간의 존재, 2002
    Presence of Space 공간의 존재, 2002
  • UM Tai-Jung, Spatial Play 공간의 유희, 2002
    Spatial Play 공간의 유희, 2002
  • UM Tai-Jung, The Milky Way 은하수, 2002
    The Milky Way 은하수, 2002
  • UM Tai-Jung, Cubic Staircase No. 7, 2001
    Cubic Staircase No. 7, 2001
  • UM Tai-Jung, A Crack - 00, No. 1 틈 - 00 - 1, 2000
    A Crack - 00, No. 1 틈 - 00 - 1, 2000
  • UM Tai-Jung, A Crack - Drawing ⅩⅤI - Gesture , 2000
    A Crack - Drawing ⅩⅤI - Gesture , 2000
  • UM Tai-Jung, Untitled, 2000
    Untitled, 2000
  • UM Tai-Jung, Song of Kaaba, 1999
    Song of Kaaba, 1999
  • UM Tai-Jung, The House on the Corner No. 17_A, 1999
    The House on the Corner No. 17_A, 1999
  • UM Tai-Jung, Bronze - Object - Age 98-1, 1998
    Bronze - Object - Age 98-1, 1998
  • UM Tai-Jung, Bronze - Object - Age 97 - 9 - Unification, 1997
    Bronze - Object - Age 97 - 9 - Unification, 1997
  • UM Tai-Jung, Bronze. Object. Age-97-1 청동.기.시대 97-1, 1997
    Bronze. Object. Age-97-1 청동.기.시대 97-1, 1997
  • UM Tai-Jung, Bronze - Object - Age 96-3, 1996
    Bronze - Object - Age 96-3, 1996
  • UM Tai-Jung, Land-Peak-1 대지-봉우리-1, 1995
    Land-Peak-1 대지-봉우리-1, 1995
  • UM Tai-Jung, Land-Peak-2 대지-봉우리-2, 1995
    Land-Peak-2 대지-봉우리-2, 1995
  • UM Tai-Jung, Untitled 95-2, 1995
    Untitled 95-2, 1995
  • UM Tai-Jung, Untitled 95-4, 1995
    Untitled 95-4, 1995
  • UM Tai-Jung, Untitled 94-5, 1994
    Untitled 94-5, 1994
  • UM Tai-Jung, Energy 93 (Intercross), 1993
    Energy 93 (Intercross), 1993
  • UM Tai-Jung, Asceticism, 1991
    Asceticism, 1991
  • UM Tai-Jung, Heaven Earth Human, 1991
    Heaven Earth Human, 1991
  • UM Tai-Jung, Light of Orient (91005D), 1991
    Light of Orient (91005D), 1991
  • UM Tai-Jung, Untitled, 1991
    Untitled, 1991
  • UM Tai-Jung, Untitled, 1991
    Untitled, 1991
  • UM Tai-Jung, Voice of Earth (91009D), 1991
    Voice of Earth (91009D), 1991
  • UM Tai-Jung, A Crowd - An Advance 군중, 1987
    A Crowd - An Advance 군중, 1987
  • UM Tai-Jung, Stars of Galaxy, 1987
    Stars of Galaxy, 1987
  • UM Tai-Jung, CARYATID-85, 1985
    CARYATID-85, 1985
  • UM Tai-Jung, Pilgrimage - Kismana, 1980
    Pilgrimage - Kismana, 1980
  • UM Tai-Jung, Ridge No. 5 "Ascension", 1979
    Ridge No. 5 "Ascension", 1979
  • UM Tai-Jung, Ridge-Oblivion on Things 사물 망각, 1979
    Ridge-Oblivion on Things 사물 망각, 1979
  • UM Tai-Jung, The Face of Things I 사물의 면모 I, 1979
    The Face of Things I 사물의 면모 I, 1979
  • UM Tai-Jung, The Setting Sun 낙조, 1979
    The Setting Sun 낙조, 1979
  • UM Tai-Jung, Energy 75 No. 3, 1975
    Energy 75 No. 3, 1975
  • UM Tai-Jung, Bird in Heaven, 1969
    Bird in Heaven, 1969
  • UM Tai-Jung, Three Winged Bird - Bird in Heaven 1, 1969
    Three Winged Bird - Bird in Heaven 1, 1969
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