Fire

For Blue Leaves, Octopus and Last Supper I've used burning Japanese sticks of incense to make tiny holes.

Quite interestingly, the word ‘utopia’ in Korean is Yi Sang Hwang (hwang means 'incense').

The attempt to find the perfect balance between the emptiness and substance in the paper is, in a way, a reflection of the concept of Yin and Yang and, at the same time, a form of meditation.

Gyotaku

To create the Octopus series and Last Supper I've used real fish, taking inspiration from traditional Gyotaku: gyo means ‘fish', and taku means rubbing. As its name indicates, Gyotaku is an art that produces imprints of fish through the method of rubbing.

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Regardless of the origins, eventually the purpose of Gyotaku changed from being a practical means of recording one’s catches to a cherished art form.

Washi

For some of my works I like to use washi paper, literally 'Japanese paper' (wa=Japanese shi=paper). In the old days, the Washi making process was undertaken by farmers as a seasonal task during the months when it was to cold for them to work outside.

The use of washi in my works allows me to accentuate the texture of the finishes and enriches the colour palette with precious nuances.

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