Hanji Unfolds: Traditional Korean Papermaking
with Su Kaiden Cho
PAPER 608 001 | 1.5 credits | $100 lab fee
August 3–9, 2025
In this hands-on workshop, students will explore the ancient Korean art of hanji, a traditional craft that transforms mulberry bark into beautiful, durable paper. For centuries, hanji has been an integral part of Korean culture, used in applications from calligraphy to interior design and fashion. Through guided instruction, students will learn the process of preparing natural fibers, forming sheets, and drying the paper. This class emphasizes both traditional techniques and modern adaptations, encouraging participants to create custom papers that reflect their personal aesthetic while connecting with the deep historical and cultural significance of hanji. Course content will consider both the historical and contemporary significance of hanji, with special emphasis on its use in art and design. We will explore the work of renowned hanji artist Lee Seung Chul, whose innovative installations and sculptures push the boundaries of this traditional material, and Yang Sang Hoon, an artist known for his intricate geometric hanji creations that blend craftsmanship with modern abstraction. A key reading will be Hanji Unfurled: One Journey into Korean Papermaking, by Aimee Lee, which offers a comprehensive look at Korean papermaking traditions. The class will also include a screening of the 2011 documentary Hanji, by Im Kwon-taek, highlighting the cultural significance of hanji in Korea. Students will create layered hanji artworks inspired by Lee Seung Chul’s installations or geometric compositions influenced by Yang Sang Hoon’s use of hanji in abstraction. For the final project, they will create a collaborative hanji sculpture for Ox-Bow.
Su Kaiden Cho, Being...with, 2024, burnt hand-made hanji (mulberry) paper and rice paste on gessobord cradled panel, 5 x 5 x 1.5 in.
Su Kaiden Cho (he/him) is a Korean-American artist whose practice spans painting, sculpture, and installation, exploring the intersections of Eastern and Western diaspora. His work is deeply rooted in phenomenology, engaging with the interplay between the visible and invisible, often through material studies and spatial explorations. Recently, his focus has shifted toward post-minimalist approaches, experimenting with monochrome and color-field compositions, with an emphasis on texture and dimensional surfaces. Cho's practice reflects his ongoing investigation into absence, presence, and the uncanny. Cho earned his MFA in Painting and Drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and now serves as an educator, holding a teaching fellowship at SAIC. His artistic achievements include prestigious residencies, fellowships, and awards, such as the International Center for the Arts in Umbria, Italy, led by Michelle Grabner, and the Ox-Bow School of Art Residency in Summer 2024. Cho has exhibited in over 20 solo exhibitions and more than 40 group exhibitions, both nationally and internationally. In addition to his artistic endeavors, Cho served as a first ambassador for Ox-Bow School of Art & Artists' Residency in 2024.