Hanji Paper Exhibition at Museo Carlo Bilotti Showcases Korean Craft

The Museo Carlo Bilotti-Aranciera di Villa Borghese in Rome is hosting 'Carta Coreana', an exhibition dedicated to Hanji, a traditional Korean paper made from mulberry bark and renowned for restoring ancient books. Curated by the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma in collaboration with the Istituto Culturale Coreano, the show features a didactic section with artifacts demonstrating Hanji's versatility in Korean craftsmanship and customs. Fifty Italian and Korean artists participated, having engaged in workshops at the Accademia—the only institution in Europe producing traditional Korean paper. The exhibition includes painting, sculpture, photography, and multimedia installations, emphasizing eco-sustainability. Italian artists predominantly use Hanji as a painting support, while Korean artists adopt a more empirical, playful approach, using the paper as sculptural material to reclaim their cultural heritage. Notable Italian artists include Bruna Esposito with 'Lungimiranti' (2021), Alessandro Sarra, Gianna Parisse with photograms from 'Morte di una stella', Iginio De Luca with 'Tevere Expo' printing video stills on Hanji, Maria Pia Picozza in collage, Luca Grechi exploring paper transformation, Felice Levini, Marco Colazzo with oil on paper, Olivia Magnani with 'Rimembranze di Ortensie', and Riccardo Ajossa, who teaches Paper Technology at the Accademia, with 'Gradazioni di sambuco di fine estate' using natural plant-based dyes.