Heejoo Kim is an applied artist and contemporary jewelry maker living in South Korea. Heejoo’s work is a reinterpretation of traditional craft art, expressing traditional techniques and philosophy with contemporary aesthetics.
These gokkal cups were crafted using hanji, a traditional Korean paper suited for serving chilled tea or cold alcoholic beverages. By folding the hanji into a conical form, inspired by paper hats worn by monks during ceremonial dances, and reinforcing it with layers of ottchil lacquer, the work transforms a humble material into functional tableware. The resulting vessels possess sufficient durability for daily use while embodying a sense of humility within the repetitive rhythm of everyday life, akin to a form of quiet practice.