The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC) invites you to an interactive talk, demonstration, and hands-on workshop exploring the art and craft of traditional hanji paper and joomchi blending technique, with interdisciplinary artist Esther Jihye Cho!

Cho will introduce hanji as a versatile and practical material with many craft applications, followed by a demonstration of basic techniques and a hands-on workshop session in which guests can create their own simple hanji craft. Participants will also learn about joomchi, a traditional technique to fuse together segments of hanji by hand into a durable, leather-like material that opens up further artistic and craft possibilities from fashion accessories to sculpture. Both hanji and joomchi have been iconic parts of Korean cultural and artistic heritage for centuries.

A selection of diverse hanji artwork created by Cho will also be on display to view after the workshop. Join us to appreciate these unique pieces and experience the beauty and charm of traditional Korean hanji crafts up close!

K-Culture Talk & Workshop: Exploring Hanji and Joomchi Crafts

Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (2370 Massachusetts Ave. NW)

Two Sessions: Thursday, July 9 (6-8 PM) & Friday, July 10 (2-4 pm)

PLEASE NOTE: An RSVP is required for each session, and space is limited. Participants are kindly asked to register for only one session, as both sessions offer the same program.

RSVP FOR THIS EVENT! 

(Opens June 29 at 10:00 AM EDT)

Session 1: Thursday, July 9 (6-8 PM)

Session 2: Friday, July 10 (2-4 pm)

Hanji is Korea’s traditional handmade paper, made from the inner bark fibers of the paper mulberry tree through a traditional manual process. Thanks to its long and strong fiber structure, hanji exhibits excellent durability and flexibility, and has been used for centuries to produce high quality books, calligraphy, painting, traditional window panes, and various crafts.

Within Korean cultural heritage, hanji also embodies the skill of artisans and the wisdom of communities passed down for generations. It continues to be highly valued today in diverse new fields of art, design, and the conservation and restoration of archival materials.

Joomchi is a traditional Korean papermaking technique in which multiple sheets of hanji are soaked in water and repeatedly rubbed, kneaded, crumpled, and pounded together by hand. Through this process, the fibers become interlocked, forming physical and chemical bonds that fuse the sheets into a single, durable material without the use of adhesives.

This technique is possible because the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree yields exceptionally long and strong fibers. While ordinary paper would tear easily when wet, hanji retains its strength akin to a textile, and becomes even more cohesive as the fibers intertwine through repeated handling and friction.

Those who experience making joomchi discover how paper can be transformed into a flexible, fabric-like material and gain a profound appreciation for the remarkable strength, texture, and beauty of traditional Korean hanji.

Esther Jihye Cho is an interdisciplinary artist and designer working in wood, paper, and performance. Her practice focuses on preserving traditional Korean craft techniques while reinterpreting them through a contemporary lens. Central to her work are meticulous and labor-intensive processes such as joomchi (paper felting) and jiseung (paper weaving), which serve as both inspiration and a means of creative expression. The time and effort Cho invests in these techniques shape her ideas and reflect her commitment to merging tradition with contemporary artistic practices as she explores themes of identity, storytelling, and materiality.

Cho is the recipient of various awards and recognitions, including the Windgate-Lamar Fellowship from the Center for Craft, the ALL Prize from Art + Literature Laboratory, the Caxton Club Grant, and the Creative Arts Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She holds two MFAs from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Woodworking and Furniture Design as well as Design Studies, in addition to two BFAs in Interior Design and Craft/Material Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University.

In addition to her studio practice, Cho is an experienced educator, teaching courses in design and craft that help students develop their technical skills and creative voices. She has exhibited her work widely and conducted workshops on Korean papermaking techniques.

For more, visit the artist's website at www.estherjihyecho.com. 

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