Eunhyeon Ahn is a Seoul-based designer whose practice explores the material and sculptural possibilities of Hanji, traditional Korean mulberry paper. Working primarily through a Hanji casting process, Ahn transforms the familiar curve of Giwa, the traditional Korean roof tile, into contemporary lighting and objects shaped by repetition, structure, and light.
The Giwa Series began with Ahn’s observation of the material life of roof tiles in traditional Korean architecture. After serving their original purpose on a roof, tiles were often repurposed to form damjang, the walls and fences surrounding traditional homes. This transition—from one function and place to another—became an important point of departure for her work.
In her work, the repeated curve of Giwa is translated through layers of cast Hanji. Its fibrous, translucent surface softens and diffuses light, while the repetition of individual forms gradually builds a larger rhythm and structure. Ahn is particularly drawn to the fleeting light of dusk, when surrounding details begin to recede and the outlines of objects become more pronounced. Through this relationship between paper, form, and illumination, her works move between functional lighting and sculptural objects.
Ahn received her BFA in Hanji Spatial Formative Design from Yewon Arts University in 2019 and her MFA in Woodworking and Furniture Design from Hongik University in 2022. She lives and works in Seoul, South Korea.
[C.V.]
Eunhyeon Ahn is a Seoul-based designer whose practice explores the material and sculptural possibilities of Hanji, traditional Korean mulberry paper. Working primarily through a Hanji casting process, Ahn transforms the familiar curve of Giwa, the traditional Korean roof tile, into contemporary lighting and objects shaped by repetition, structure, and light.
The Giwa Series began with Ahn’s observation of the material life of roof tiles in traditional Korean architecture. After serving their original purpose on a roof, tiles were often repurposed to form damjang, the walls and fences surrounding traditional homes. This transition—from one function and place to another—became an important point of departure for her work.
In her work, the repeated curve of Giwa is translated through layers of cast Hanji. Its fibrous, translucent surface softens and diffuses light, while the repetition of individual forms gradually builds a larger rhythm and structure. Ahn is particularly drawn to the fleeting light of dusk, when surrounding details begin to recede and the outlines of objects become more pronounced. Through this relationship between paper, form, and illumination, her works move between functional lighting and sculptural objects.
Ahn received her BFA in Hanji Spatial Formative Design from Yewon Arts University in 2019 and her MFA in Woodworking and Furniture Design from Hongik University in 2022. She lives and works in Seoul, South Korea.
[C.V.]
