Lee uses ‘Every Last Scrap’ for art
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An exhibition by artist Aimee Lee opens Friday at the Kent State University Museum.
"Every Last Scrap" by the internationally recognized artist and scholar features garments created entirely from hanji, a Korean tradition making paper from the bark of mulberry trees.
Through labor-intensive papermaking, natural dyes and the careful reuse of every scrap of material, Lee transforms traditional hanji into sculptural garments that connect centuries-old Korean craftsmanship with contemporary artistic practice.
According to museum Director Sarah Spinner, "These are not clothes to be worn, but works of art that encourage us to think differently about clothing, craft and the materials from which they are made."
Born in New York to immigrant parents, Lee traveled to Korea on a Fulbright grant to study the disappearing art of hanji. She transforms raw paper mulberry bark into handmade paper through a labor-intensive process before printing and dyeing the paper with natural materials including indigo, onion skins and cochineal.
Many of the works in the exhibition take the form of hanbok, the general term for traditional Korean clothing. Rather than discarding the off-cuts created during construction, Lee saves every scrap of material and incorporates it into future works. The resulting patchwork designs reflect her commitment to sustainably stewarding the materials she cultivates and crafts.
"I grew up in a family that was just barely removed from the ravages of war, where frugality was a virtue, and even a toothpaste box could be rendered forever useful," Lee has said. "Papermaking was a revelation to me, because I could use any number of plants and rags to transform cellulose into paper, and paper into art. Hanji became a way to connect to my heritage and to other far-flung members of the Korean diaspora ... Each bit holds a story, and together the ensuing garments build new narratives for our ever-evolving world."
"Aimee Lee: Every Last Scrap: will be on display through May 24, 2027, at the museum, 515 Hilltop Drive, Kent. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for senior citizens and $5 for children ages 5 to 18 and free on Sundays. For more information, go to www.kent.edu/museum or call 330-672-3450.