Selected Explorations



















    ©2017 - 2024 KK Design Studio

    In the Presence of Hanji

    A material-driven exploration of hanji where light, shadow, and air converge to reveal the ephemeral beauty of tradition. The exhibition was curated to reflect the delicate interplay of nature and craftsmanship redefining cultural heritage through the lens of contemporary design.






    This project emerged from an eight week creative lab at Baeryeom House, a serene hanok and registered cultural property in central Seoul. Once home to painter Je-dang Baeryeom, the space bridges tradition and contemporary art. Its architecture blurs the boundaries between indoors and outdoors allowing wind, light, and shadow to flow freely.





    In this setting, hanji (traditional Korean paper) becomes both medium and muse capturing fleeting moments often overlooked. Each piece is handmade, exploring the interplay of light, shadow, and breeze. This exhibition invites viewers to experience hanji’s natural textures as they shift with light, revealing the quiet beauty of the present moment.








    Feather Hanji (깃털지)


    As you enter the outdoor garden of Baeryeom House, your attention is drawn to Shadow Hanji (실지) inspired by the fleeting patterns of light and shadow filtered through the leaves of a magnolia tree. Sheets of hanji, treated to absorb and preserve these ephemeral impressions, are suspended just under the eaves, swaying gently in the breeze.

    Positioned so that their shadows fall onto a 창호문 screen behind them, the installation offers a dual perspective: from outside, viewers witness the hanji moving with the light, while from inside, shifting silhouettes appear against the screen. This quiet interplay of movement and shadow echoes the ever-changing presence of nature, inviting contemplation on time’s impermanence, framed by the hanok’s architecture.









    Feather Hanji (깃털지)

    In the narrow room of Baeryeom House, a rhythm of windows frames shifting views of sunlight, bamboo, pottery jars, and an outer wall where plants emerge from concrete bricks. Inspired by the movement of wind and light,
    Feather Hanji brings this breeze to life. Sheets of hanji, suspended in a linear arrangement, sway gently as air flows through the open windows. Each is anchored by found stones from the garden, grounding the installation while preserving its ethereal quality.








    Hand kneaded Hanji (먹줌치)


    In the spacious daecheongmaru (main hall), wide windows open to reveal a white concrete wall softened by exposed brick. Against this backdrop, Ink-Dyed Hanji unfolds a layered hanji pressed and kneaded using a traditional jumchi (줌치) technique to create a leather-like surface. Dyed with Asian black ink, its organic texture contrasts with the minimalism of the space. Suspended like kites, these pieces move subtly with the breeze, evoking quiet depth.







    The Hanji installation invites viewers to pause, allowing the delicate sway of the hanji and the natural elements to evoke a sense of quiet contemplation.










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