One Artist’s Audacious Pursuit of Traditional Korean Hanji

In Korea, there’s a saying that “Good silk lasts 100 years, good hanji lasts 1,000 years.” Hanji, a special paper, is made through a complex, centuries-old process that combines mulberry tree pulp and hand threading. Aimee Lee, a Korean-American artist, received a Fulbright fellowship to learn the craft in Korea. There, she studied with master hanji-maker Jang Seong-woo. Despite being a male-dominated practice, Lee excelled. Her perseverance, audacity and aptness for hanji impressed her mentor so much, that he now refers to Lee as a colleague. Today, she’s the leading hanji weaver in the United States, and has dedicated her career to teaching others this ancient Korean practice. This Great Big Story is a paid contribution by Genesis. SUBSCRIBE: https://goo.gl/vR6Acb This story is a part of our Human Condition series. Come along and let us connect you to some of the most peculiar, stirring, extraordinary, and distinctive people in the world. Got a story idea for us? Shoot us an email at hey [at] GreatBigStory [dot] com Follow us behind the scenes on Instagram: http://goo.gl/2KABeX Make our acquaintance on Facebook: http://goo.gl/Vn0XIZ Give us a shout on Twitter: http://goo.gl/sY1GLY Come hang with us on Vimeo: http://goo.gl/T0OzjV Visit our world directly: http://www.greatbigstory.com