Hanji: Embracing Color featuring works by artist Lee Seung-chul

The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. proudly presents "Hanji: Embracing Color," a new exhibition featuring works by artist Lee Seung-chul. This exhibition delves into the chromatic and sculptural potential of hanji, traditional Korean paper, while also highlighting its deep cultural significance as a handmade medium for both craft and communication.

On view from August 20 through November 20, the exhibition showcases a diverse array of hanji-based artworks. Visitors will encounter pieces characterized by their tactile physicality, sculptural presence, and vibrant, nature-derived colors. The gallery features Buddhist sculptural forms, floating multicolor moon jars reminiscent of classical porcelain dalhangari, and fragments of bandaji chest furniture. The artist's bojagi wrapping cloth textile works, featuring traditional natural dyes, are also on display.

Lee Seung-chul's works, informed by over 40 years of study and conservation research, visually convey the richness of Korea's distinctive color palette and aesthetic sensibility. The exhibition also includes historical examples of hanji collected by the artist, such as books and official papers tracing back to Korea’s ancient Joseon Dynasty. These historical pieces offer a broader understanding of hanji's enduring history and cultural importance. For centuries, hanji was used in architecture, handicrafts, painting, preservation, and everyday objects, serving as one of Korea’s most significant cultural heritage materials.

Admission to the exhibition is free. A public pre-opening reception will be held on Wednesday, August 19. For more details and to RSVP, please visit the Korean Cultural Center's website.