Jang’s prescription of a special tea formula not only cured Yang of sleeplessness in six months but also did wonders to his skin. Hence, he partnered with the doctor to launch EATH Library in 2018, producing serums and creams that use ingredients such as goji berry, sage oil and Chinese asparagus root (or asparagus cochinchinensis) commonly found in traditional medicine that is anti-asthma, anti-inflammatory and gut health-promoting, among other health benefits.
Since starting his eponymous studio in 2009, Yang has created many beautiful office interiors, museums, spas, restaurants and luxury homes that eschew glossiness for understated elegance, anchored by the use of natural materials, artisanal techniques and the rigorous study of Korean traditional craft.
His work is widely admired and has been published in two Phaidon publications. Yang was also highlighted in 2022 by AD100 – a venerated list of creatives by the publication Architectural Digest. He is also helping Seoul’s tourism board with branding the city.
Some notable projects include the renovation of the original 1987-built Kukje Gallery, where custom-designed walnut timber furniture, timber-lined ceilings and walls, and minimal cream interiors provide a meditative backdrop for artworks by Louise Bourgeois and Haegue Yang.
In the redesign of Gyeongju National Museum’s Silla History Gallery and lobby area, slim bamboo guards around exhibits replace sterile metal or rope barriers. Yang has also designed elaborate wallpapers for French luxury wallpaper and fabric brand de Gournay that adapts Joseon-era still life paintings.