What is Joomchi?

This five hundred year old Korean   technique is basically wet felting mulberry paper. Similar to wool felting it simply uses water to bond layers of fibrous mulberry paper. The wet paper is rolled and kneaded quite vigorously until the fibers meld into a fabric-like material.

The Koreans used it for clothing, rain gear, room dividers, lamps and even armor!

It is very versatile and can be used for many types of art as well. Because of its strength mulberry has been used for archival documents.

When it is manipulated into a solid piece it can be taken a few steps further. The paper begins to dissolve and the melded fibers are visible, creating beautiful organic patterns. If you continue, holes form and you end up with a kind of “lace”. This is particularly lovely in art pieces. If you cut slices or shapes before felting the effects are also quite interesting. Burning holes in the individual papers with an incense stick before felting produces another interesting effect.