Although the exhibition was just for a day, the beauty of hanjigrim will live on for many guests at the June 18 exhibition and workshop who went home with their own hanjigrim paper fans that they made themselves.
“It was fantastic,” said Christina Freidel, a docent at the Smithsonian’s Freer and Sackler art galleries, as she displayed her handiwork: a finely textured paper fan adorned with two red radishes composed of dyed and pasted bits of Korean hanji paper. “I love paper, and the delicacy of [hanjigrim] is amazing.”
Hanjigrim artwork, which at first has the appearance of a carefully textured painting, is actually composed entirely of small pieces of traditional, naturally dyed paper pasted together by hand to create natural forms and detailed images.
Another guest, Stephen Marcus, said that although he regularly attends events at Washington’s many foreign embassies and cultural centers, he often finds himself coming back to the Korean Embassy’s KORUS House.
“KORUS House is the up and coming embassy for unique and interesting cultural activities,” Marcus said. “There is such a richness here [and there are] so many programs.”
Those who many have missed the one-day exhibition at KORUS House will still have an opportunity to explore this quintessentially Korean combination of traditional craft and modern innovation: The Hanjigrim exhibition will be on display at the Won-Buddhism of Washington DC Temple (4257 Muncaster Mill Road, Rockville, MD 20853) June 20-30 from 1-5pm daily.
