Korean paper art

Alex & Jisun Kim

Korean paper art uses special paper which called 'Hanji'

Hanji : traditional Korean paper handmade from mulberry trees

1.The history of Paper Art

Actually, starting point is not exact. However, we think that paper art dates from the Goguryeo Dynasty period. Maybe it started at 371. The paper art of the period is traditional paper art and there are only paper art workings which were made at Joseon Dynasty. In Joseon Dynasty, craftsman made storage closet, box and so on. And the skill of making paper art was initiated and In Korea, the government gives the title of Intangible Cultural Property to people who are master craftsman about some part. And we call them “Intangible Cultural Asset” However, This traditional paper art is decreasing after 40 to 50years ago. These days, people prefer modern paper art to traditional.

2.How to make 'Hanji Doll'

It takes one month for novice to make one hanji doll. Before you making, you must decide what kind of doll you want to make.
First make the head and body part. Start by making skelton with steel wires.
Then you should wrap hanji on the wire. Push the rolled paper inside the hole of the head.
And attach torn papers on the head to fix it. Hang the wire to backside of the head then twist to make upside-down triangle shape. Fill the body part with layers of hanji and fix it with hanji.
And attach color hanji to doll then wrap the body to make clothing of doll.





3. Famous 'Hanji Doll' artist in Korea

Korean famous hanji doll artist is Younghee Kim. She is a worldwide Hanji doll artist so
she held exhibitions more than 70 times in German, Holland, France, Sweden, Spain and so on. In her exhibitions there has a theme of old Korean life so young children learn about old life. When she was 5years old, her father attached hanji to the frame of a paper sliding door
And a little bit hanji was left. She made something with it. It was beginning of her paper art.
She said that hanji dolls are created with devotion, patience and mind of a mother.
It means she treat her working as her children.
Whenever she starts working, she doesn’t meet anybody and lives in hermitage to make creative things.

Korean hanji doll looks very lively because they want to show several complicated expressions.