Echoes of Home: Memory and Belonging
Echoes of Home: Memory and Belonging is rooted in my personal experiences and ongoing exploration of what it means to belong. For me, home extends beyond physical comfort and familiarity—it is a layered concept woven through memory, identity, and cultural heritage. My work investigates these themes by using materials and images that carry personal resonance and connect to my Korean roots.
To evoke this sense of home, I combine traditional Korean materials with printmaking processes. I begin by creating images and symbols that are meaningful to me—fragments of childhood homes, domestic objects, belongings, and memories shaped by historical events. These images are printed onto hanji, traditional Korean handmade paper. Through tearing, layering, and the Joomchi technique—wetting, agitating, and fusing sheets of paper—I transform these prints into richly textured works. This physical process of combining and reworking echoes the layered nature of memory and the resilience of belonging.
Each resulting piece is both intricate and evocative, holding within it personal narratives and the tactile history of its making. I see my prints and papermaking not only as expressions of my own story, but also as invitations for viewers to contemplate their sense of home and identity. By grounding my work in materials and symbols from my cultural background, I hope to foster intimacy and shared reflection, inviting others to connect with their memories and emotions.
Ultimately, Echoes of Home: Memory and Belonging is an ongoing project—a space for reflection and connection, both for myself and for those who encounter my work. Through these layered forms, I hope to open a dialogue about the complexity of home, the traces of memory, and the enduring search for belonging.
