HYONG NAM AHN
ARTIST BIO & STATEMENT
Hyong Nam Ahn (b. 1955) is a sculptor and multimedia artist whose work seamlessly integrates light, sound, and movement. He earned both his BFA and MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1980, where he was influenced by the Kinetic Art movement of the 1960s. Ahn’s dynamic sculptures and drawings embody a fusion of spontaneous artistic expression and technical precision, capturing the energy of both the physical and spiritual realms.
Ahn’s geometric forms often evoke natural motifs, while his expressive linear elements and use of neon lighting draw inspiration from the centuries-old tradition of Asian calligraphy. His work is characterized by an elegant balance between lyrical fluidity and raw material power, reflecting themes of nature, harmony, and peace. By incorporating industrial materials alongside organic elements, Ahn’s creations explore the interplay between technology and nature without passing judgment, inviting viewers into a sophisticated dialogue on progress, philosophy, and spirituality.
Fascinated by the ever-changing nature of the environment, Ahn continuously seeks visual language to express its dynamic qualities. Using mixed media and technological elements, he conveys his reflections on human relationships in an increasingly mechanized world—one that exerts force over nature while remaining subject to immutable universal laws, such as the constant velocity of light. His recent works draw inspiration from natural phenomena, including moonlight and migrating birds, incorporating sound and light as both artistic subjects and mediums.
Throughout his career, Ahn has been commissioned to create public sculptures for prestigious institutions and corporations, including McDonald’s Corporation in Kirkland, WA; McCormick Place Donnelly Hall World Convention Center in Chicago, IL; Princeton Theological Seminary in NJ; and most recently, Sarang Church in Seoul, Korea. He also designed the main stadium torch tower for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. His work has been exhibited in renowned museums such as the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, IL; the Ohio University Art Museum in Oxford, OH; and both the SOMA Museum of Art and the Moran Museum of Art in Seoul, Korea.
Ahn has been invited to more than twenty solo exhibitions, including "Eternal Love" at Love Community Church in New York, "Finding Dignity" at Have Gallery in Ghungdo, Korea, and "For the Peace and Harmony of the World" at Art Mora NY. His work has also been prominently featured in installations highlighting the interplay of light and sound, such as "The Place Called One Two Three" at Morning Dance & Performance Theater in Chicago, IL; "Light Installation in Space" at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, IL; and "Sound and Light Sculpture Duluth" at the Tweed Museum in MN.
Hyong Nam Ahn (b. 1955) is a sculptor and multimedia artist whose work seamlessly integrates light, sound, and movement. He earned both his BFA and MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1980, where he was influenced by the Kinetic Art movement of the 1960s. Ahn’s dynamic sculptures and drawings embody a fusion of spontaneous artistic expression and technical precision, capturing the energy of both the physical and spiritual realms.
Ahn’s geometric forms often evoke natural motifs, while his expressive linear elements and use of neon lighting draw inspiration from the centuries-old tradition of Asian calligraphy. His work is characterized by an elegant balance between lyrical fluidity and raw material power, reflecting themes of nature, harmony, and peace. By incorporating industrial materials alongside organic elements, Ahn’s creations explore the interplay between technology and nature without passing judgment, inviting viewers into a sophisticated dialogue on progress, philosophy, and spirituality.
Fascinated by the ever-changing nature of the environment, Ahn continuously seeks visual language to express its dynamic qualities. Using mixed media and technological elements, he conveys his reflections on human relationships in an increasingly mechanized world—one that exerts force over nature while remaining subject to immutable universal laws, such as the constant velocity of light. His recent works draw inspiration from natural phenomena, including moonlight and migrating birds, incorporating sound and light as both artistic subjects and mediums.
Throughout his career, Ahn has been commissioned to create public sculptures for prestigious institutions and corporations, including McDonald’s Corporation in Kirkland, WA; McCormick Place Donnelly Hall World Convention Center in Chicago, IL; Princeton Theological Seminary in NJ; and most recently, Sarang Church in Seoul, Korea. He also designed the main stadium torch tower for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. His work has been exhibited in renowned museums such as the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, IL; the Ohio University Art Museum in Oxford, OH; and both the SOMA Museum of Art and the Moran Museum of Art in Seoul, Korea.
Ahn has been invited to more than twenty solo exhibitions, including "Eternal Love" at Love Community Church in New York, "Finding Dignity" at Have Gallery in Ghungdo, Korea, and "For the Peace and Harmony of the World" at Art Mora NY. His work has also been prominently featured in installations highlighting the interplay of light and sound, such as "The Place Called One Two Three" at Morning Dance & Performance Theater in Chicago, IL; "Light Installation in Space" at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, IL; and "Sound and Light Sculpture Duluth" at the Tweed Museum in MN.
Ahn’s geometric forms often evoke natural motifs, while his expressive linear elements and use of neon lighting draw inspiration from the centuries-old tradition of Asian calligraphy. His work is characterized by an elegant balance between lyrical fluidity and raw material power, reflecting themes of nature, harmony, and peace. By incorporating industrial materials alongside organic elements, Ahn’s creations explore the interplay between technology and nature without passing judgment, inviting viewers into a sophisticated dialogue on progress, philosophy, and spirituality.
Fascinated by the ever-changing nature of the environment, Ahn continuously seeks visual language to express its dynamic qualities. Using mixed media and technological elements, he conveys his reflections on human relationships in an increasingly mechanized world—one that exerts force over nature while remaining subject to immutable universal laws, such as the constant velocity of light. His recent works draw inspiration from natural phenomena, including moonlight and migrating birds, incorporating sound and light as both artistic subjects and mediums.
Throughout his career, Ahn has been commissioned to create public sculptures for prestigious institutions and corporations, including McDonald’s Corporation in Kirkland, WA; McCormick Place Donnelly Hall World Convention Center in Chicago, IL; Princeton Theological Seminary in NJ; and most recently, Sarang Church in Seoul, Korea. He also designed the main stadium torch tower for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. His work has been exhibited in renowned museums such as the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, IL; the Ohio University Art Museum in Oxford, OH; and both the SOMA Museum of Art and the Moran Museum of Art in Seoul, Korea.
Ahn has been invited to more than twenty solo exhibitions, including "Eternal Love" at Love Community Church in New York, "Finding Dignity" at Have Gallery in Ghungdo, Korea, and "For the Peace and Harmony of the World" at Art Mora NY. His work has also been prominently featured in installations highlighting the interplay of light and sound, such as "The Place Called One Two Three" at Morning Dance & Performance Theater in Chicago, IL; "Light Installation in Space" at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, IL; and "Sound and Light Sculpture Duluth" at the Tweed Museum in MN.
Ahn employs a diverse range of materials, including aluminum, stainless steel, wood, stone, and oil paint, often integrating environmental elements like wind. This synthesis of disparate materials fosters a dialogue that accentuates his sensitivity to balance, movement, and illumination. His use of neon lighting and industrial materials serves as a reflection of modernity’s coexistence with the natural world rather than a critique of industrialization.
Lighthouse: Hyong Nam Ahn
Interview with Artist by NAMOO Gallery
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