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:                ...

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 ....

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...

Korean traditional boudoir crafts ……  As the week was progressing I was brimming with new ideas to incorporate into my Hanji craft and visiting this studio was  no exception. Initially I wondered why they were taking me to see a lady who does sewing but I soon came to realize that we can take ideas from many different directions and adapt them to what we do. I was to visit   the studio of Jeong Yun Suk, a lady who does Korean boudoir crafts gyubang .   Jeong Yun Suk sitting at a hanji table Jeong Yun Suk's studio Jeong Yun Suk was a beautifully gentle soul who spoke softly but with an infectious hint of enthusiasm in her voice.   H er studio was full of many beautiful pieces that she was keen to show me and each piece was obviously made with  lots of love and attention to fine details.   Her interests include bojagi (quilting) and chasu (embroidery) and she also works with Jeong Hyun Ja using naturally dyed fa...

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...