Senior Capstone
2025
Medium: Hanji (Korean mulberry) paper, vellum, matte acrylic medium, waxed thread
Dimensions: 7x5 inches
A handbound artist book exploring the theme of memory through the use of historical family photographs and textured paper.
Awarded the Meserve Award by Northeastern’s department of Art + Design.
Guided by the meaning of my last name (translating to “river east”), I explored the lives of my grandparents as young children during the final years of Japanese occupation in Korea, their immigration to the states with their own children, and how their lives eventually flowed into mine.
This book is both a physical archive and an exploration of the tactility of memory. As Jamie Anderson said, "Grief, I've learned, is really just love. It's all the love you want to give but cannot... Grief is just love with no place to go." Creating this book not only helped me grieve the loss of my grandparents but also helped me remember their love and encouraged me to pour my love into something tangible.