Use the Korean Art of Joomchi to Felt Mulberry papers and create durrable, sculptural organic forms

Part 2 of the series.
This technique uses the particular qualities of mulberry paper to craft papers into a solid and durable fabric-like material. Hanji (Korean mulberry paper) is manipulated by hand, moulded and felted, rubbed and coaxed, causing the long fibres, typical of mulberry papers, to felt and adhere to each other. The paper becomes stronger the more it is worked.
The process creates strong, textural, textile-like papers that become elegantly smooth with use. The result can be six times stronger than ordinary Hanji papers and can be sewn into clothing or used to make functional items such as wallets, containers and covers.

With scant information about this process, Louise follows advice to just give it a go. This exploration of the materials and process will be shared as a journey you can join. Hope you enjoy it and get to experience this technique and the fantastic handmade mulberry paper's unique qualities.

Other relevant videos by Louise Jannetta

With thanks to the following Joomchi and Hanji artists. Please see the fantastic videos of their practice –

Jeong Han Yun and Choon Hyang Yun - See -Paper Abstract Artist, Jeong & Choon – video link Jeong Han Yun and Choon Hyang Yun

Hanji or Korean paper is the name of traditional handmade paper from Korea. Hanji or mulberry paper is made from the inner bark of Broussonetia papyrifera, known colloquially as paper mulberry or DAK. Dak is a tree native to Korea that grows well on the sunny slopes of Korea’s many mountains. It is prized for its long white fibres. The formation aid crucial to making hanji is the mucilage that oozes from the roots of the Hibiscus Manihot. This substance helps suspend individual fibres in water. Traditional hanji is made in laminated sheets using the we bal method (a sheet formation technique), which allows for multi-directional grain[3] The process of creating hanji also employs dochim, a method of pounding finished sheets to compact fibres and lessen ink bleed. Hanji paper is famous across Asia for its white colour and extreme durability and was a high import to China in tribute missions.

[mille]

I am very exited about what you are doing, you have a wonderful way of explaining the process of materials...Thank you very much...Kirsten Kolditz From Denmark...;-)

[mafish]

Fascinating process! Tfs your time and energy in your videos! Laura ❤

[bronwenquick]

Something new for me to try!! THANK YOU!!! Ontario, Canada.

[marts]

I really look forward to every video you put out especially on joomchi. Thanks for sharing

[mmemix]

Looking forward to see the end result. Thanks for sharing. I learned a lot by watching your video's. Good luck.

[petergordon]

Looking good. Hope you got your leak sorted out . All the best thanks for sharing. Best peter Scotland xx

[caroleseubert]

🙏🏾Thank you so very much for sharing these videos. I just learned about joomchi & am so excited to start exploring it. Your videos are so helpful. I’m off to the shops today to find mulberry paper. I hope to combine joomchi with my quilt making in different ways. Thanks again!

[suebowen]

Louise I am so excited ...have just done my very first piece of Joomchi . It is so beautiful and I love how the light shines through . It is drying at the moment in the late Autumnal sunshine . Not a clue what I can to do with it, awaiting inspiration . Obviously need to order lots of mulberry paper . Two thing I found helpful for me was to use cellophane to work on and a roll of cling film made a great rolling pin to smooth it out after each scrunching . Sending you the biggest thank you for sharing your technique . Where do we go from here ?

[AnaisSong]

Hi Louise! This is a really beautiful video thank you. I wanted to know how it reacts when it dries, does it become hard and brittle or is it fabric like and supple ? and on a level of strength, how would you rate it?

[anazec]

Mulberry. Paper is wery expensive for exsperiment. Really like to find any kinde replacment f tor mulberry paper but there isn't