Sacred Paper: Korean Ritual Arts + DEMONSTRATIONS

Korea’s ritual paper arts reveal a remarkably inventive tradition in which humble mulberry paper becomes an expressive material of extraordinary range. Sacred Paper: Korean Ritual Arts highlights two regional practices that transform fragile fibers into complex sculptural forms. In Chungcheongnam-do, the Seolwi Seolgyeong tradition creates intricate cut-paper structures that define and organize ceremonial space. Artist Jongseung Park demonstrates how paper can be shaped into protective architectural forms through precise cutting, layering, and assembly. Along the East Sea Coast, Dr. Heera Shin presents folded flowers, lanterns, and ornaments that animate ritual settings with color and movement. Shown together, these works celebrate paper’s versatility, regional diversity, and enduring craftsmanship.

This exhibition is curated by Jinyoung Anna Jin, the director of Asian art and culture at the Charles B. Wang Center, and the Academic Center for K-Religions at Sogang University in Seoul.

The exhibition and related public programs are sponsored by the Academy of Korean Studies and the Korea Foundation.