The Paper Tapestries of Jeong-Han Yun and Choon-Hyang Yun
For more than 30 years, husband-and-wife artists Jeong-Han Yun and Choon-Hyang Yun have dedicated their lives to the creation of abstract works that blend deep tradition with contemporary sensibility. At the heart of their practice lies an extraordinary material: handmade paper, drawn from the raw bark of Dak trees.
Seeking to evoke primal, emotional responses—something they found lacking in mass-produced papers and synthetic pigments—the Yuns turned to nature. With reverence and resolve, they began a process as old as the trees themselves. They climb mountains, harvest bark from wild Dak trees, peel and pulverize the bark through repeated boiling and hand-pounding, and infuse the fibers with natural dyes. Through this labor of love, they awaken the tree’s spirit—reviving its essence in a form that is both tactile and transcendent.
Rooted in the ancient Korean tradition of Hanji papermaking, their work represents an alchemy of East and West. Hanji, which originated nearly 2,000 years ago and was brought to Korea from China, is made from the inner bark of the Dak (or mulberry) tree. The bark regenerates annually, allowing the Yuns to sustainably harvest it each winter. Committed to preserving this tradition, they even support South Korean farmers who maintain Dak groves and travel each year to select and collect the material themselves.
Once back in their studio, the Yuns begin the meticulous, multi-stage process of papermaking: steaming, pulping, and refining the bark until it becomes a usable, organic pulp. Some is left natural, while other portions are blended with finely ground earth pigments to create vivid, pure colors. Using hand-molded screens, they form sheets of paper that serve as the base for their work. Then begins a layering process—designs built from pigmented pulp, collage elements, and sometimes even their own etchings or monotypes. Each piece evolves slowly, with great intention and patience.
"Though deeply traditional in process, their work is unmistakably modern in form. Drawing from their Western art educations, they bring a contemporary abstraction to a timeless craft."
Together, they made a pivotal decision—to unite their creative energies. With shared vision yet distinct sensibilities, they now collaborate on each work, signing every piece jointly and sealing it with their thumbprints dipped in pigment. This gesture symbolizes not only their approval, but the intimate, meditative spirit with which each artwork is created.
Their works, which they refer to as “paper tapestries,” are as durable as they are beautiful—Hanji artifacts from the sixth century remain remarkably preserved. Their titles are intentionally minimal: Paper Play, Zen, or Dac-tree Recollection, often paired with an internal numbering system. Meant to be displayed without glass, their works glow when bathed in natural light. A custom magnetic mounting system enhances their presentation, allowing the viewer to engage fully with their texture and presence.
To stand before a work by Jeong and Choon Yun is to be drawn into a quiet, powerful moment—one that transcends theory or interpretation. The fibers seem to pulse with life. The colors breathe. The work becomes not just an object, but an invitation—a prayer in paper—connecting artist and viewer in a deeply personal exchange.
