Oh Sarah
Center for Japanese Language
June 19th the opportunity to attend the Hanji workshop would mark my first involvement with ICC events. My initial interest was because I have not made anything with traditional Korean paper in so long. I felt that it would be a great break from my usual routine, as well as to become acquainted with more students on campus. Needless to say, I had a great experience getting to know more people and producing creative work away from the academic setting.
Photo by ICC
Photo by ICC
The event took place on the first floor of Building 25 in the Garden Hall. After check-in, we were assigned to tables where we could pick which tray design we wanted to work on. Every piece was different from the next. The front was decorated with the guest speaker’s work. The variety ranged from small furniture, shoes, to decorative lamps. The back had desks to purchase more kits of today’s craft, Gonggi and Ddakji games to play afterwards, and the drying station. In addition, the staff were excellent in helping participants throughout the event.
Photo by ICC
Photo by ICC
As the event officially began, we were given a short bilingual introduction outlining the structure, the guest speaker, and what we could expect. When they finished, the guest speaker, Mrs. Suyeon Kim, explained the history and her personal passion for the craft. Mrs. Kim is a certified and award-winning Hanji artisan and instructor. She also showed us a few pieces she worked on with such a proud expression on her face I could not help but be excited to get started. Explaining the process with great detail, she showed and gave tips on how to precisely apply our strips, and in which order we should apply them. In the kit, we could find 9 pieces of Hanji put in numerical order, a printed design sheet, a smoothing tool, and a brush to apply glue. The tables were covered in newspaper to protect the surface, and a bowl of liquid glue.
Throughout the process, I discovered things to consider when trying to produce the best work you can. First, work quickly and apply glue generously. Avoid friction when smoothing with the tool. It ruins the integrity of the fibers with Hanji. Hanji is stronger than paper when wet with glue yet take care to remain delicate. When working with excess paper, don’t be afraid to rip it off and smooth it down. The fibers and glue allow for seamless integration.
I think the condensed artistic, and later games, were a great way to introduce Korean culture outside of the more popularized K-pop or food events, because of what it was able to leave behind. It was more than just an experience and an impression that everyone attended. The result is a physical representation of a memory to fondly recall back on with the tray we made ourselves. The positive experience with the event has now persuaded me to attend more crafting ICC events, so I am glad that Hanji was my first event.
