Hanji Happenings

Beginner Hanji Classes  When:                   May 2nd - June 6th                             10.30 am - 12.30pm Where:                 Station master's Art Gallery ' Red Hen' workshop                            20 South Terrace,                             Strathalbyn, South Australia Phone:               +61(08) 8536 4263 Level:                ...

As much as we like to think we know what the future is going to hold for us and the creative directions we wish to take, it doesn't always turn out the way we'd like it too. Part of being creative is being open to taking new directions and being inspired by some unexpected things.   Having moved into our little 1860s cottage 8 months ago now we've been  busy doing renovations to it and it has, for the majority of the time, been all absorbing and putting my Hanji work on hold.  The renovations are coming on nicely with many rooms now having been painted, woodwork restored, fireplaces repaired and a new kitchen installed. I have a lovely "Barn' where I can keep my Hanji  pieces, desk and a small work space but it's considerably smaller  than I've had in the past and  not big enough for having classes.   My plan is for a much bigger Hanji studio to be built in a double garage at the end of our yard  latter this year and this wil...

I'm back .......... Merry Christmas and a Happy 2018 to you all.  I've taken a longer than expected break from doing Hanji and spent 2017 involved in family and household commitments but am now raring to get back into being creative once again and am committed to updating my blog more regularly this year. Last year  my main Hanji event was an exhibition called 'Dissolve' in Sydney at the Korean Cultural Centre where I was asked to take part in an exhibition along with 4 other Australian artists who have been influencd by Korean Culture.  (I'll write more about that in other post). In the meantime keep checking back for more of my inspirations and creations for 2018 ....

Wow ! Wow ! Wow!   What a wonderful experience !! I've just returned from  2 weeks in Korea where I was invited to be involved in the filming of a 60 minute  ArTravel documentary for Arirang TV , an English broadcasting channel based in Korea and broadcast worldwide to give viewers a contemporary look at Korea. As I flew from Adelaide  to Seoul, I was excited but also a little unsure of what was going to be expected of me and the Hanji experiences they'd organized for my time in Korea. I knew I was going to be traveling around the country, it was going to be very interesting and would ultimately give me so much more knowledge about Hanji and its traditional roots .    I was met at the airport by the writer for this documentary, Jin Hee Lim  and my interpreter/manager 'Hayley' and they soon whisked me into Seoul and my Hotel for the next few days. After a short meeting I was pleased to get some sleep after my long fligh...

Korea is calling once again.  In just under a week I'll be heading off to Korea at the invitation of a TV production team to film a one hour documentary on Hanji.  It'll be part of a series of documentaries they'll be producing featuring artists who've been influenced artistically in some way  by Korea and it's culture. I'm truly honoured by this invitation and only hope that I can do it, and Hanji,  justice. As my mind drifts back to the wonderful things I've already been privileged to see and experience in Korea  I thought that I'd share with you just 10, of the many thousands of photos  I've taken over the years , that give a tiny glimpse of the people, place and spirit of  the country.  

Food, wine, discussions on Korean culture and ceremony was the order of the night last evening when the University of South Australia held the official opening ceremony of the 'King Sejong Korean Language Institute' in Adelaide.   There were a wide range of dignitaries  in attendance, many of whom had  flown in from around the country. They included Politicians and Korean Diplomats from Canberra,  Korean Consulate staff from Melbourne and members of the Korean Cultural Centre from Sydney.  There were also University of South Australia  Professors and  Board members of the Australia - Korea Foundation from various States in Australia. The Korean Ambassador to Australia Mr Woo Kyoung-Ha Mr Nigel Roth, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Uni SA and unknown guest I had been invited to  display my Hanji  and it quickly received  keen interest from those in attendance including the Koreans who had little idea there was...

  K- Paper (Hanji) Culture Festival   from 15 Feb - 29 Feb, 2016 at the Korean Cultural Centre, Sydney, Australia more information at info@koreanculture.org.au Ph: 02 8267 3400 15 Feb.               - Opening & Hanji Fashion Show 15 Feb - 29 Feb - Hanji Craft Exhibition 15 Feb - 16 Feb - Workshop experiences 15 Feb - 16 Feb - Paper Market I'll be there as I've been asked to be involved in the Festival, so as the only non Korean  I feel extremely privileged that they will have 5 of my pieces at the exhibition for the 2 weeks of the festival. I'm delighted and I can't help but reflect on what a wonderful way to help improve relations between Australia and South Korea by being able to appreciate the respective Cultures and their Arts. 'People can only live fully by helping others to live. When you give life to friends you truly live. Cultures can only realize their further richness...