The Tactile Poetics of Ha Chong-Hyun Born in the historic landscape of Sunchang, South Korea, in 1935, Ha Chong-Hyun emerged as a transformative force whose very touch redefined the boundaries of the canvas. His early life, shaped by the profound shifts of post-war Korea and a childhood spent partially in Japan, instilled in him a deep sensitivity to the changing textures of a nation in reconstruction. After graduating from Hongik University in 1959—studying under masters such as Kim Whanki—Ha began an artistic journey that would move far beyond mere representation. While his initial forays…