Korean American artist Aimee Lee traveled to South Korea to learn hanji, the traditional method of making paper from the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree. She trained under master artisans who maintain a craft that dates back more than a thousand years.
Lee returned to the United States and established a studio in Ohio where she produces hanji using the same labor-intensive techniques. The process involves steaming, stripping, and pounding the bark by hand before forming sheets in a bamboo screen mold.
She grows her own paper mulberry plants to ensure a consistent supply of raw material. Lee also researches historical Korean texts to recover forgotten variations in sheet formation and finishing.
In addition to making paper, Lee teaches workshops and university courses that cover both the technical steps and the cultural context of hanji. Her students include artists, conservators, and scholars interested in traditional book arts.
Lee has collaborated with museums and libraries on conservation projects that require historically accurate Korean paper. She also creates her own artwork using hanji, exploring its strength, translucency, and response to ink and dye.
The craft faces challenges in Korea from aging masters and declining domestic demand. Lee's work in Ohio represents an effort to document and transmit the knowledge outside its country of origin.
She has published a book detailing the history, science, and practice of hanji, aiming to create a reference for future practitioners. Research into the material properties of hanji continues in academic settings.
Lee says the physical demands of the work and the need for precise environmental control make it difficult to scale. She views her role as maintaining a living practice rather than creating a static archive.
Preserving Hanji, the Ancient Korean Craft of Papermaking, in Ohio
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