Donald Judd 'Honesty in Simplicity' Insights from the 20th Century Modern Art Master

By Eunyoung Kang

The exhibition Donald Judd: Furniture at STORAGE by Hyundai Card in Itaewon, Seoul, showcases the furniture of Donald Judd, an artist who expanded his creative practice across painting, installation, and design. This is the first and largest exhibition in Korea focusing on his furniture, spanning four spaces across the second and third basement levels. It features around 100 works, including furniture made from wood, plywood, and metal from the 1970s to the 1990s, as well as prints and drawings from the Judd Foundation.

Donald Judd was a pivotal figure in modern art. Although widely recognised as a leading minimalist, he resisted being labeled as such, arguing that the term was too limiting. Judd's interest expanded beyond his sculptures and was also devoted to architecture, design and creating a space. He began designing furnitures when he wasn’t satisfied with the ones he could find. Starting with desks and beds for friends, this collection quickly grew with the help of local carpenters.

The exhibition displays some of these early works, including square-shaped chairs. While these chairs may appear identical at first glance, each is unique—some feature angled wooden supports between legs, others have fully enclosed fronts, and some incorporate flat boards between legs to create shelves.