Toen-maru - A Roof Between Time

Located within the vibrant flow of Seoul’s Starfield Library—a cultural crossroads where students, office workers, and tourists converge daily—our installation responds to this dynamic public setting. More than just a library, the space functions as a social and sensory meeting point, filled with the aroma of fresh pastries, the murmur of conversations, and the quiet presence of books.

In this context, we sought to create a work that bridges contemporary experience with traditional Korean craftsmanship. At the heart of the installation is hanji—handmade Korean paper crafted from the inner bark of the mulberry tree (dak). Revered for its strength, translucency, and deep historical roots, hanji has long carried the weight of knowledge, memory, and wisdom across generations.

Sheets of hanji are suspended from the structure, gently shifting as visitors pass through. Each piece embodies a meticulous process: the harvesting, steaming, and stripping of bark; the careful boiling and rinsing of fibers; the rhythmic scooping and shaking onto bamboo screens; and finally, the pressing and polishing that transforms pulp into paper.

This installation is a quiet celebration of that process—a moving archive of craft, gesture, and material knowledge. It invites the public not only to witness the elegance of hanji, but to walk through it, brushing against the wisdom it holds.