Jeong and Choon Yun demonstrated their unique process for creating paper tapestries for local residents recently, when the South Korean artists visited Ponte Vedra’s newly opened Cutter & Cutter Fine Art gallery in Sawgrass Village.
The artists traveled from their Pennsylvania home studio to demonstrate their technique for gallery visitors Oct. 14 and 15 during a special exhibition of their work. It’s a technique the couple has perfected over the past quarter century, Jeong Yun said.
“If I do say so, it’s an unprecedented process,” he said. “It’s a totally new technique.”
Far from merely creating tapestries out of paper, Yun explained, he and his wife actually harvest the bark of trees and create the paper and cellulose fibers themselves. The papers are then dried and dyed using a myriad of vibrant, all-natural organic dyes.
“These fibers are so strong,” Yun said, dipping his hand into a container of saffron-hued dye and pulling out the strings of fibers. “And yet these are so soft,” he said, gesturing to some colored fibers that appeared to have the texture of cotton balls.
Gallery co-owner Sonya Cutter praised the Yuns’ natural technique and the couple’s collaborative artistic process.
“They both know what they’re trying to present,” she said, “and they are so skilled in how they balance their art.”
Cutter & Cutter unveiled more than 50 of the couple’s works ranging in size from 16 inches by 16 inches to 72 inches by 72 inches. Prices range from $1,500 to $24,000.
As part of the Yun’s visit, Cutter noted, the artists donated an original work that the gallery raffled off to benefit the St. Johns County 1st Responders Relief Fund.
