Lee Ufan at work in his Paris studio, February 2014
Stylistically the artists of Dansaekhwa rejected realism and formalism for modernist abstraction, choosing to paint only in monochrome and in a style that emphasised the flatness of the canvas.
The movement highlighted the post-war struggle within Korea over national identity, belonging and tradition. By using repetitive patterns and gestures in their pictures they attempted to create an aesthetic style that was universal and belonged to no one.
Artists associated with Dansaekhwa are Ha Chong-Hyun, Hur Hwang, Lee Dong-Youb, Lee Ufan, Park Seo-Bo, and Yun Hyong-Keun.