Weaving knowledge from the past
- Jiwon revives historical textile techniques and traditions from South Korea
- Experimentation and research lie at the heart of his craft
- He learned traditional ramie weaving from master artisans
Through research and reconstruction, Jiwon Ree explores woven textile applications in clothing and interiors. His work is rooted in tradition, with a particular focus on kyojig, a weaving technique where different natural materials are interwoven. Jiwon works primarily with natural fibres sourced from different regions, including ramie yarn from Hansan. Trained in traditional fibre crafts, he developed his approach through academic study and independent inquiry. Jiwon learned ramie weaving from master artisans associated with mosi, South Korean ramie weaving, which formed the foundation of his practice. "I continue to investigate historical textile structures and colour systems, viewing tradition and innovation as part of an ongoing cycle," he says.
INTERVIEW
I often reflect on the idea that nothing is entirely new, only newly seen. Historical records and artefacts inspire my imagination. Though seemingly fixed, they reveal new meanings from different perspectives, allowing past traces to become something new today.
The foundation of my work lies in mosi, traditional South Korean ramie weaving, through which I learned the basics of weaving. I source ramie yarn from Hansan in Seocheon, a historical community known for collective mosi production, which I view as my textile home.
I begin by closely reconstructing traditional forms. I then test the knowledge I gained from the process with contemporary materials and methods, to explore its applications in clothing and interiors.
I reconstructed 12 types of gyojik, Joseon-period textiles, combining different fibres in the warp and weft. The pieces were preserved mainly through historical records and fragments. Developed over seven years, the project became a defining foundation of my practice.
