Preparing Fiber for Hanji
Hanji Edition is pleased to announce Preparing Fiber for Hanji, the first volume in a visual trilogy on the process of making hanji, or traditional Korean paper.
This project is our second collaboration with Korean American artist Julia Chon, who designed and woodblock-printed the interior foldout illustration (21 1/2” h x 11 1/4” w). The covers were designed and letterpress printed by Lars Kim. This book is offered in a limited edition of 40 and is available as either a standard or deluxe edition, with the latter featuring cover hanji made by Steph Rue.
Book size: 5 3/4″ h x 4 1/4″ w
Standard edition cover: Colorplan 91 lb. Text in Harvest
Deluxe edition cover: Walnut-dyed hanji by Steph Rue
Order your copy today via our Online Shop.
Julia Chon
Julia Chon, better known by her artist name Kimchi Juice, is a Washington DC-based artist and muralist. Chon’s work explores the relationship between cultural tradition and its effects on generational identity and the decisions Asian Americans make to form their identities. With a prominent Korean aesthetic in each piece, Chon merges her ancestry and traditions with the contemporary to convey the nuances of the Korean diaspora.
As Chon’s work makes its way from canvas to large-scale murals, these intimate portraits take center stage in an urban environment. Her murals can be found internationally and her work has been exhibited in solo and group shows in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and New York City. Chon’s clients and collaborations include NASA, Apple, the Korean Cultural Center, and the Phillips Collection, among others. Chon was featured in the HBO docuseries, Take Out with Lisa Ling.
Artist Statement
For this project, I hand-carved and printed a woodblock print that visually narrates the beginning steps of traditional hanji making. Woodblock printing felt like the natural medium for the artist book, as it mirrors the labor, patience, and repetition inherent in hanji making itself. I wanted to honor the history of mokpan (목판), the wooden printing blocks used in traditional Korean printing. Inspired by this method, the work adapts contemporary tools and techniques while remaining grounded in respect for its historical lineage.
My creative process began with extensive research, listening, and learning, grounding each illustration in lived knowledge and practiced technique. In Korea, papermakers often say that hanji-making involves one hundred steps. Expansive and nuanced as hanji production is, it would be near impossible to depict every step or variation within a single print. Instead, this work aims to communicate the essence of the process: its physicality, intentionality, and cultural continuity. The piece intends to document, invite, and educate viewers while encouraging curiosity, respect, and deeper engagement with a living tradition.