This South Korean artist works with natural materials to create contemporary works of art

In South Korea, the humble hand fan is not only a useful device to keep one cool during the hot summers, it is also an item of historical and cultural significance.

Often adorned with intricate paintings and calligraphy, these fans are used in ceremonial events, rituals and traditional dances and may also bear seasonal motifs that represent the changing beauty of the seasons through the year.

Inspired by this heritage, multidisciplinary artist and designer Kim Hyun-Joo has made her meticulously handcrafted fans a central theme in her body of work, seamlessly weaving elements of nature and traditional practices into contemporary works of art.

Reflecting on her childhood memories of people carrying hand fans in the humid streets of South Korea, she envisioned designing a fan that was not only functional but also artistic at the same time.

This is why many of her designs are mounted on a sturdy base that can stand upright, so that they double up as a beautiful display when not in use. It’s important that the fans have a decorative element rather than simply being an item used to cool down, she said.

One of her artistic breakthroughs was incorporating the use of hanji, a traditional type of paper made from the inner bark of the mulberry tree for her fans. “I thought hanji could have more diverse uses that are not just limited to wallpaper, flooring or lighting. I felt it would be nice to bring back some of the traditional uses of hanji and to create new items that people do not typically associate with it,” she said.

Known for its sustainable production process, hanji is made from one-year-old mulberry tree branches instead of felling the entire tree. “Because the mulberry branch fibres are long, the paper has a subtle layered appearance and a unique texture that seems to tell a story, which is attractive,” she elaborated.

Kim views each of her fans not as isolated objects but as a representation of a tree. “Trees come together to create a forest – and a cool breeze blows when you are in the forest, giving you a pleasant feeling,” she said.

Which is why for her Wind Blowing in the Forest series, the different fans are designed with colours reminiscent of the four seasons to represent the ephemeral beauty of nature.

Kim’s hanji fans have also found admirers far beyond the borders of South Korea. Her works were recently showcased at the prestigious 2023 Maison et Objet Fair in Paris, solidifying her place among the global elite in design and craftsmanship. She has also exhibited at major design and craft fairs in New York, Paris, London and Frankfurt. Yet, she derives her greatest satisfaction when she encounters regular people enjoying her creations.

She recalled: “My Italian buyer was in the subway and saw someone using my fan so he took a picture and sent it to me. I was amazed that our fans are being used in Paris!”

This international recognition is a culmination of a lifelong ambition to become an artist. “I loved doodling when I was young and as a person who tends to pursue my interests, I had already decided I would become an artist in middle school,” she said. However, her mother did not want her to study art in high school so when she enrolled in university, she chose to study product design in university to pursue her interest and develop her passion.

In 2013, Kim set up a studio to create decor pieces and housewares from marble and other natural materials including clay and wood.

One of her professors, Cathy Lee, a design management professor at Hongik University IDAS, has witnessed Kim’s evolution as an artist and has been an avid collector of her work.

“She came into my class when I was a young professor, but she was such a talented student that I did not have to worry about her,” Lee said. Kim is proactive, and it has been fascinating to witness how she starts working on an idea even during the initial discussion stage; sometimes, by the next day, she already has something accomplished, Lee continued.

Today, Kim continues to push the boundaries of how hanji can be used by creating sculptural forms out of the paper. One of her latest works is a framed artwork made from hanji, which Lee feels exemplifies the artist’s skill in capturing the essence of calmness and beauty. “At first sight, it calmed me, and I thought it was marvellous that looking at hanji could evoke such a feeling. She offered it to me for my birthday, so we called it ‘half-a-century Cathy’,” quipped Lee.

This relentless pursuit for originality through reviving traditional materials and pushing the boundaries of contemporary design has firmly positioned Kim as an artist to watch in South Korea.

“I enjoy experimenting with new techniques. It is exciting to create something difficult for others to replicate,” she said. “While it would be fantastic to be recognised and appreciated for my commitment to pursuing originality, my main motivation is to convey the sincerity and dedication I put into my work through the results I produce.”