Soon-Yeal Young
Yang, Soon-Yeal is a contemporary South Korean artist born in 1959 in Uiseong County. Her upbringing amidst the serene landscapes of her hometown deeply influenced her artistic vision, leading her to explore the profound connections between humanity, nature, existence, and spirit. Beginning with traditional Korean painting, Yang has expanded her practice to include painting, sculpture, installation, and media art, crafting a distinctive and poetic visual language.
From 1996 to 2006, she served as an adjunct professor in the Department of Oriental Painting at the Catholic University of Daegu, nurturing the next generation of artists. Throughout her career, Yang has held over 30 solo exhibitions across Korea and internationally, including in Switzerland, New York, the Netherlands, Japan, and the United States. Notably, her series ‘Ottogi’ and ‘Homo Sapiens’ have been showcased in cities like Seoul and Andong, offering contemplative reflections on human existence that have deeply resonated with audiences.
In addition to her solo exhibitions, Yang has participated in more than 100 group exhibitions worldwide, continually expanding her artistic dialogue across diverse cultures and contexts. Her works transcend mere form, poetically weaving together themes of time and humanity, motherhood and the cosmos, nature and spirit. Rooted in the emotional depths of ‘Jeong’ (a profound Korean concept of affection), sacrifice, and healing, as well as the philosophy of ‘Hongik Ingan’ (the ideal of benefiting all humankind), she delicately captures the flow of unseen presences and emotional textures, transforming Korean sensibilities into a universal artistic language.
Yang’s contributions have been recognized with several awards, including the Best Artist Award from the Korean Council of Art Critics in 2020 and the Baeksang Art Award for Young Artists in 1997. She has also authored multiple art essays, such as ‘Mother’, ‘Awakening the Sea of Time’, and ‘Homo Sapiens’. Her works are part of esteemed collections, including the Ho-Am Art Museum, POSCO Art Museum, Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Government, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ukraine, and the Hendrick Hamel Museum in the Netherlands.
Continuously evolving, Yang Soon-Yeal’s art invites viewers to pause and reflect upon the timeless questions of life, guiding them to discover the quiet resonance of truth, emotion, and being within that stillnes
Education
1959 Born in Gyeongsangbuk-do Uiseong
1996-2006 Lecturer and Adjunct Professor of Fine Arts Department at Catholic University of Daegu, College of Fine Arts.
Solo Exhibition
2024-25. ‘Jeong,’ Hotel de Rougemont and Spa, Rougemont, Switzerland
2024 ‘Drawing Art,’ Culture Park, Andong
2023 ‘Till The Stars Shine,’ Gyeongbuk Provincial Office of Education Gallery, Andong
2023 ‘Ottogi, Rainbow Has Come: Sea of Love,’ Gallery INSA 1010, Seoul
2022 ‘Mother, The Force That Raises Motherly Ottogi,’ Hakgojae Gallery, Seoul
2022 ‘玄玄 EPIPHANY,’ The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, Seoul
2021 ‘玄玄 EPIPHANY,’ INDIPRESS Seoul, Seoul
2021 ‘Mother Earth, OTTOGI,’ Gyeongbuk Andong
2019 ‘Anima/Animus Ottogi,’ Elga Wimmer PCC, New York
2019 ‘本 Rhapsody in Hypostasis,’ Zaha Museum, Seoul
2018 ‘Rhapsody in Red,’ Elga Wimmer PCC, New York
2017 ‘Yang’s Women-Without My Arms to Understand,’ Kunstuitleen Alkmaar, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2017 ‘Make a Journey to the Mother’s Forest,’ Galerie Des Amis, Woudrichem, Netherlands
2016 ‘I Long for My Home,’ Hamelhuis, Gorinchem, Netherlands
2015 ‘Mother goes on an outing to see flowers,’ Gaekju Literary Space, Cheongsong-gun, Korea
2014 ‘Letter of Winter,’ POSCO Gallery, Pohang, Korea
2012 ‘Beyond beyond,’ Gallery at University of Missouri, USA
2011 ‘Leaning against in the world of imagination,’ Hotel Interbulgo Art Gallery, Daegu, Korea
2011 ‘Awakening the Sea of Time,’ Gallery Artlink, Seoul, Korea
2007 ‘Homo Sapiens,’ Hakgojae, Seoul, Korea
2005 ‘The Heart of a Flower,’ Hakgoaje, Seoul, Korea
2003 ‘Unity and Peace’, Independent Arts, New York, USA
2003 ‘Unity and Peace,’ Maronie Gallery, Kyoto, Japan
2003 ‘Unity and Peace,’ Wonmi Gallery, Daegu, Korea
2002 ‘Yang Soon-yeal,’ Muncheon Gallery, Andong, Korea
2002 ‘Unity and Peace,’ Wonmi Gallery, Daegu, Korea
1996 ‘YANG Soon-yeal,’ Byuka Museum of Art, Daegu, Korea
Group Exhibitions
2024 ‘Beyond the Land,’ Gallery LIMAA, PARNAS HOTEL JEJU, Jeju-do
2024 ‘How Are You Feeling Today?,’ Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art, Gyeonggi-do
2024 ‘Step on the Ground - Songhyeon,’ Seoul Art Week Songhyeon Green Park
2023 ‘How Are You Feeling Today?,’ Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art, Gyeonggi-do
2023 ‘Step on the Ground - Songhyeon,’ Seoul Art Week Songhyeon Green Park
2023 ‘Motherhood,’ Sookmyung Women’s University Moonshin Art Museum Gallery 1 Moon Gallery, Seoul 2022 ‘All About Attitude,’ Culture Station Seoul 284, Seoul
2022 ‘Arts, Co.Evolution,’ Dalseong Daegu Contemporary Art Festival, Gangjeongbo The Arc, Daegu
2019 ‘A Few of My Favorite Things,’ Elga Wimmer PCC, New York
2019 ‘Special Exhibition to Commemorate Kim Yoon-soo,’ Gana Art, Seoul
2017 ‘Remind-Hamel was there,’ WTC Art Gallery, Rotterdam, Netherlands
2016 ‘Remind-Hamel was there,’ WTC Art Gallery, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Additionally, over 100 more exhibitions
Publications
Mother (GOLDSUN, 2015)
Standing on the Forest of Time and Space (GOLDSUN, 2014)
Yang Soon Yeal: Art is an adventure that never stays the same (GOLDSUN, 2013)
Awakening the Sea of Time (GOLDSUN, 2011)
Blooming on the Branch of Time (GOLDSUN, 2009)
Homo Sapiens (Oneul, 2007)
Awards
2020 40th Korean Council of Art Critics Best Art Award
2010 55 Contemporary Art Writers Award, Seoul Art Center, Seoul
1997 3rd Korea Daily Baeksang Art Award for Young Writers
Collections
Hoam Museum of Art
Yeouido Parc.1
Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Korea
Gyeongsangbuk-do Provincial Government
Hendrick Hamel Museum, Gorinchem, Netherlands
POSCO Art Museum
Gaekju Museum of Literature
Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency