Choi Jeong Hwa information

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Choi Jeong Hwa
Choi jeonghwa in 2020
Born	1961
Nationality	Korean, South
Education	Hongik University
Known for	installation, public art

Choi Jeonghwa (Korean: 최정화, born 1961 in Seoul)^[1] is an artist and designer whose work moves between the disciplines of visual art, graphic design, industrial design and architecture. His inspiration comes from popular culture and day-to-day life. Large-scale outdoor sculptures crafted from diverse materials such as consumer goods, balloons, wires, as well as recycled and found objects are the hallmarks of Choi's playful repertoire.^[2]

Choi Jeonghwa is a globally recognized superstar artist, representing South Korea with an acclaimed international reputation as a contemporary artist. However Choi can be labeled in multiple ways — installation artist, art director, interior designer and art educator.

He is most well-known for his role as the lead artist for the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, often referred to as the Olympics of the art world, and the widespread recognition of his installation piece“Alchemy at the main hall of the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, featured in a video by the Korea Tourism Organization. His recent participation also include international appearances such as ‘Breathing Flower’ in MFA Boston and Annecy Paysage and multiple Biennnales and Triennales in cities ranging from Bangkok, Hawaii to Saitama.

Unlike many artists who tend to focus on major exhibitions, Choi has also participated in many global art festivals along with his eco-friendly and sustainable participatory programs.‘Sea Lives’ was one of the main events at the Helsinki Night of the Arts festival. Along with thousands of children, Choi created colorful and gigantic marine animals from recycled plastic bags with the aim to draw people’s attention to marine protection and the massive plastic rafts that float in the oceans.

Interestingly, Choi not only comes from the realm often referred to as “fine art” but from diverse activities. For instance, he served as the artistic director for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Paralympics, created commemorative sculptures for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and collaborated with prestigious brands like Dior, Bvlgari, Fendi, and Nespresso.

His artistic scope goes beyond museum exhibitions. In the ’90s, he experimented with combining music, food, exhibitions, performances, and seminars through spatial designs like“Olo Olo” (1990), “Space Ozone” (1991), and “Salba” (1996).

He has also engaged in architectural projects that bridge commerce and the public, including works for commercial districts like Insa-dong and Esquire Sorsente. In recent times, he has collaborated on projects related to environmental and ecological design, such as the Jeju VEKE Garden and the Namhae Dolchanggo Project.

As an educator, Choi has been engaging in art activities and educational programs with children for decades. He has recently participated in ‘Neulbom Arts School’ , a key government policy, organized by The National Education Promotion Service, in collaboration with EBS, aimed at developing online cultural and arts education content accessible for everyone.

An incredibly versatile director, Choi has directed London’s The Coronet Theatre with ‘Tiger, Journey, Love’ – a month-long series of events featuring the best of Korea's contemporary art, dance, theater and music scene. He has also collaborated with the National Theater and the National Changgeuk Company of Korea on the “Heungbo Exhibition” and directed the stages of Leenalchi, an alternative Korean pop band.

As the debate over the definition of contemporary art continues, Choi Jeonghwa simply defines it as ‘everyday.’ From our ancestors’ primitive lives to modern times, art is everywhere and can be seen anywhere. Being a well-rounded player in this field, Choi continues his journey to represent art in all aspects of life.