Hanji Happenings

  Transformation, creation and longevity ...... Suji Kim Suji Kim a beautiful, young Korean is a 'Linking Traditional Artist' who embodies a new generation of Koreans who are working with their age old traditions and bringing pieces of Hanji art into the 21st century. Her background is in fine arts and her interest is in the symbolism of folk paintings which she reproduces onto Hanji .  Traditional Korean folk paintings portrayed the simple lives of everyday people  and were far from sophisticated and yet the characters, animals, birds, flowers, nature and  seasons all ha d symbolic meanings. When adored on screens and as paintings on walls they created pleasant surroundings with constant reminders to their traditions and values. Korean Folk Art is a dying art form because the majority of modern Koreans , as is true all over the world, would rather have minimalist designs adoring their homes . Suji Kim's interpretations of those paint...

My documentary   on  Hanji  has  now been aired in Korea on Arirang TV, an English broadcasting channel, and here it is for you to view.  It was the most  amazing experience and one that I'll never forget.  I met so many wonderful people who will form a large part of my Korean Hanji experiences. I have so many new ideas to work on now that my head is literally spinning with new creative thoughts but with Christmas looming I'm going to have to put them aside for a few more weeks and focus on the family. My Hanji book is the next area that I intend working on more intently in the New Year and with my new found knowledge of Hanji paper, dyes and construction techniques, I have so much more to add. So grab a cuppa, sit back and share my recent Hanji journey with me .......

My twin sister, a Buddhist nun ……… My twin Young Dam when she was younger One of the many highlights of my journey was a visit to the Youngdam Hanji Museum to meet the director Young Dam, a Buddhist Nun who's spent decades making Hanji paper and doing 2D and 3 D Hanji art.  I was impressed that she’d done her research about me before I arrived and knew what work I’d  want to see on this visit but what surprised me the most was that she realized we were the same age and decided that because we both love Hanji and have similar interests we must be ‘Hanji twins’. At first I was a little apprehensive to meet her as my image of a Buddhist nun was of a person who was quiet, genteel and almost ethereal, who obediently went about her daily rituals, never questioning, demanding nor being confronting.   I’m not saying any of those traits are undesirable; in fact I admire them and those that have the willpower to be devotionally serene and obedien...

Experimenting with the natural dyeing of Hanji paper, with traditional herbs. The next part of our journey took us to Jeong Hyun Ja’s Natural Indigo dyeing factory in Yeongcheong district. Hyun Ja was a very welcoming lady who opened up her premises for the filming of this documentary and was very happy to share her techniques for dyeing.   She started her business called I.N.D.T (Indigo Natural Dyeing Therapy) around 19 years ago and is hoping to pass it on to her only son, who was ably assisting her on the day. Jeong Hyun Ja is reportedly the first person in South Korea to discover the benefits of environmentally - friendly Indigo Natural dyeing products and has been an ambassador for the natural dyeing of fabrics in her country and overseas. She’s been widely quoted in the local and international media on the subject and talks extensively about POSTECH, the ergonomics Design and Technology laboratories as well as Kyunhee Univer...