Byung Hoon Choi: Voice of Silence

Like its title suggests, Voice of Silence features a new body of work that deepens the artist’s exploration of stillness and silence. Choi has described his work as ‘a meditative object of self-reflection’. Working mostly with natural materials such as clay, wood, stone and granite, he applies a mix of traditional Korean craft and modern design to create a soulful body of work that feels ancient and contemporary at the same time.  Smooth, polished surfaces run into rough-hewn textures, curving, fluid shapes seem like they could continue onward into space. “The materials I use, whether it’s the cool hardness of basalt or the warmth of wood, each carries its own history and energy,” Choi explains. “My process is about finding harmony in their contrasts and celebrating the quiet beauty that emerges from these natural forms.”

For Voice of Silence, Choi crafted a series of black wood cabinets that rest on natural stone bases. The cabinets pay homage to Choi’s Korean cultural heritage and were inspired by the classical scholar ethos of the Joseon Dynasty, the last imperial dynasty of Korean that lasted between 1392-1910. Also on view are two large basalt benches that have been polished and carved to create different textures and spaces to sit. They are like large scholar’s stones transformed into a functional piece of furniture. Choi views these works as a meditation on both the physical properties of the stone and the geological evolution of Earth itself. His ongoing use of the title Afterimage of Beginning reflects this concept. As he states, “stone is a lingering afterimage of the origin.” The benches invite contemplation, a space to experience a moment of calm, an idea that seems almost rarefied in today’s non-stop noise.

Born in Gangwon-do, South Korea in 1952, Byung Hoon Choi graduated from Hongik University with a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Fine Arts and completed a Masters of Fine Art in 1979. Throughout his career, Choi has been devoted to fostering education and scholarship in the field. In 1977, he founded an association of young artists, The Society for the Creation of Decorative and Applied Arts, which had a profound effect on defining the future of applied arts in Korea. After 27 years of tenure, he retired from teaching as an honorary professor at Hongik University. Choi has travelled extensively around the world drawing inspiration from ancient civilizations, and this lifelong passion to explore different traditions and cultures continues to inform his approach.

Byung Hoon Choi: Voice of Silence, is on view at Friedman Benda Gallery, New York, from March 27-May 23, 2025.

Byung Hoon Choi

@atelierchoi

Friedman Benda

@friedmanbenda