Jiha Moon paints her detailed ink-and-acrylic works on hanji, a traditional handmade paper from Korea. In these delicate, surreal landscapes, Moon bridges the realm of history in Eastern and Western art. She uses symbols from her native Korea, from China, and from the pop-culture imagery of her adopted home in the United States. Her connected experience to these cultures translates into her work’s varied geography, wildlife, flora and fauna, and light and weather patterns. Into this imagery, Moon weaves references to folklore narratives and to the visual language of popular culture.
At FWM, Moon created a series of organza works that were hand embroidered, collaged with handmade Korean mulberry paper, and painted over hand screen-printed sheer fabric of silk organza. The artist stretched several of these pieces as one would a canvas on a custom armature and layered other pieces on top. This imagery, as seen through the textured and embroidered surface layering of the delicate organza, creates an unrestrained fantasy.
In another series, Security Blanket, Moon explores the additional idea of making a painting into an object. This “blanket” integrates multiple techniques—painting, screen-printing, embroidery, and quilting—and features a border made from the wedding dress of Moon’s mother.
