Aimee Lee, an artist, papermaker, writer, and the leading hanji researcher and practitioner in North America, visited two Korean classes on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. Through photographs, videos, hanji samples, and artwork, Aimee Lee shared her experience of excavating the traditions of Korean papermaking and localizing the entire process in the U.S.—from planting trees to producing hanji and transforming it into art.

Students learned about the history, science, cultural significance, and craft of Korean papermaking, as well as how this coveted material has supported various aspects of Korean culture and society.

Visitors from Cleveland-based arts organizations joined the session and made it more interesting with their insights. Ika Hsiao, Conservator of Asian Paintings at the Cleveland Museum of Art, who specializes in Chinese painting conservation, gave a glimpse of the use of handmade paper in conservation. Nicole Donnelly, Executive Director of the Morgan Conservatory, which specializes in handmade papermaking, book arts, and letterpress printing, joined the session, along with other local papermakers. Through discussions and hands-on interactions with hanji samples and artworks, students understood hanji’s continued relevance in contemporary Korean culture and its potential for adaptation in other contexts.