Almine Rech
STAND 94
ARTWORKS
Additional artworks will be shown on 27/01/2021 !
News
Almine Rech - Ha Chong-Hyun’s sixth solo exhibition
Almine Rech Brussels is pleased to present Ha Chong-Hyun’s sixth solo exhibition with the gallery, on view from April 22 to June 27, 2026.
Abstraction and figuration are foundational terms in the context of modern and contemporary art, yet their meanings are all too often taken for granted. The work of Korean artist Ha Chong-Hyun invites us to reconsider these categories beyond simple binaries. In much of Western aesthetic thought, abstraction and figuration are positioned as diametric opposites along the axis of representation. Central to this opposition is the notion of “likeness”, that is, the degree to which an image resembles the subject it depicts. From this perspective, abstraction appears detached from reality, while figuration is assumed to mirror it more truthfully. The problem with this distinction is that it presupposes an ontological primacy of mind over matter, embedded in the conception of the image as a “window” onto reality rather than as a material entity.
Ha Chong-Hyun’s practice challenges these assumptions at their very core. His works investigate abstraction as something deeply grounded in materiality, where repeated gestures – dragging, piercing, pressing – give rise to “figures” in their own right. This approach resonates with European Art Informel, but is primarily representative of the Korean Dansaekhwa movement, of which Ha Chong-Hyun is a central figure. Dansaekhwa has long been undervalued, reductively framed as tardive or derivative in relation to Western movements such as Minimalism or Abstract Expressionism. Such readings severely overlook the movement’s distinct material sensibility and the sociopolitical conditions under which it emerged.
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— Pieter Vermeulen, art critic, lecturer, researcher, and curator
Video
BRAFA 2026 welcomes Almine Rech
Almine Rech joins BRAFA 2026 for the very first time, presenting a selection that bridges generations, movements, and artistic sensibilities.
In this interview, the Brussels gallery director reflects on the gallery’s vision, its international evolution, and the philosophy that continues to guide its programme.
At the heart of the presentation stands Crow (2025), a new kinetic sculpture by Belgian artist Hans Op de Beeck: a life-size bird suspended in motion, its slow, hypnotic wingbeats creating the illusion of flight. Mechanical yet hauntingly poetic, the work captures Op de Beeck’s contemplative reflections on time, solitude, and the stillness of being.
Surrounding this centrepiece, Almine Rech brings together modern masters and contemporary voices:
• Pablo Picasso — unique engravings (bons à tirer, 1968) and rare ceramics
• Tom Wesselmann — Smoker Study (for Smoker #11), 1972
• Vivian Springford — a luminous 1973 painting
• Heinz Mack — a 1959 relief and ceramic works
• Johan Creten — Odore di Femmina
• Christopher Le Brun, Minjung Kim, Ha Chong-Hyun, and others
This encounter of eras reflects the gallery’s defining ethos: a continuous dialogue between rigorous minimalism, perceptual experimentation, conceptual clarity, and contemporary expression.
Founded in Paris in 1989 with an exhibition by James Turrell, Almine Rech has grown into one of the most respected international galleries, with spaces in Paris, Brussels, New York, and Shanghai. Through long-term relationships with artists and estates—from Turrell, Kosuth, and Jeff Koons to Ha Chong-Hyun, Richard Prince, Ryoji Ikeda, and the estates of Picasso and Wesselmann—the gallery remains committed to artistic freedom, excellence, and the evolution of visual language.
🎥 Watch the full interview to discover how Almine Rech approaches its debut at BRAFA and what to expect in January 2026.
📍 BRAFA Art Fair 2026
🗓 25 January – 1 February
📍 Brussels Expo
🔗 www.brafa.art
Video by NOOT
BRAFA Principal Sponsor: Delen Private Bank
CONTACT
Brussels
Multiple locations
Rue de l’Abbaye 20
BE-1050 Brussels
ABOUT
Founded in Paris in 1989 with an exhibition of James Turrell’s Space Division work, Almine Rech has grown into an internationally recognised gallery known for its commitment to minimal, perceptual, and conceptual practices. Early collaborations with James Turrell, John McCracken, and Joseph Kosuth established its reputation for rigour and independence. Over the following decades, the gallery strategically expanded to Brussels, New York, and Shanghai, whilst maintaining its strong Parisian foundation. Each new space reflects a deliberate step toward deepening relationships with artists and collectors whilst preserving the gallery’s vision. The programme is rooted in enduring relationships with artists such as James Turrell, Joseph Kosuth, Jeff Koons, Ha Chong-Hyun, Richard Prince, Ryoji Ikeda and Larry Poons, alongside estates including those of Pablo Picasso, Tom Wesselmann, and Günther Förg. A new generation—Claire Tabouret, Nathaniel Mary Quinn, Chloe Wise, Vaughn Spann, Genesis Tramaine, Ewa Juszkiewicz, Ali Cherri, Oliver Beer—adds fresh voices to this dialogue, reinforcing the gallery’s commitment to originality and excellence across painting, sculpture, installation, and new media. Almine Rech champions artistic freedom as a vital force in society. Its mission is to support artists with clarity, coherence, and long-term commitment, presenting exhibitions across its international spaces and at leading fairs such as Art Basel, TEFAF, and Frieze. Through Almine Rech Editions, the gallery also produces prints, catalogues, and monographs, contributing to the preservation and dissemination of critical artistic discourse.
Founded : 1989
Specialisations
Modern and contemporary art
Fairs
ART021 – Shanghai, Art Paris, Art Basel, Art Basel Hong Kong, Art Basel Miami, Art Basel Paris, artmonte-carlo, Frieze London, Frieze Seoul, TEFAF New York, Tokyo Gendai, Frieze Los Angeles