The Birth of Hope /2018 Fine Art of Fiber at Chicago Botanic garden

Exhibited at: Fine Art of Fiber, Chicago Botanic Garden (2018)

Birth of Hope by Jaclyn Bae — hand-dyed paper artwork expressing light, faith, and renewal

48 x 24 inches · 2018

Birth of Hope installation at Fine Art of Fiber 2018, Chicago Botanic Garden

Installation view · Fine Art of Fiber 2018

Birth of Hope | Hand-Dyed Paper Art

The work “Birth of Hope” is created by hand-dyeing Korean paper and folding it using a traditional paper-folding technique. Layers of color, texture, and repetition form a visual meditation on hope — the kind that emerges quietly in moments of uncertainty.

Developed through repeated dyeing, drying, folding, and reassembling, the process itself mirrors the act of rebuilding: slow, deliberate, and rooted in patience. The luminous tones speak to resilience, while the structure of the folds symbolizes the fragile yet persistent nature of faith.

Although inspired by the message of new life and renewal within Christian tradition, the work ultimately reflects a universal longing: to discover light in the midst of difficulty, and to find encouragement that carries us forward. Birth of Hope invites viewers to pause, reflect, and encounter a moment of quiet brightness.

### **In-Depth Analysis: Materiality, Hanji, and the Healing Role of Repetition**


The use of the traditional Korean paper, **Hanji**, is more than a mere material choice; it carries profound symbolic weight. Hanji, known for its **longevity and durability** ("paper lasts a thousand years"), inherently embodies the **resilience** that is central to the artwork's theme. The myriad folded paper pieces employ the traditional Korean technique of **Jong-i jeobgi (paper folding)**, which is increasingly recognized for its therapeutic potential in the field of **Paper Folding Therapy**.


The **repetitive act** of dyeing, drying, folding, and reassembling serves as a form of **active meditation** for the artist, enabling the cultivation of **psychological patience and emotional regulation** by weaving fragmented emotions and memories into a unified, coherent structure. The final form, created by the accumulation of hundreds of small, folded paper units, powerfully visualizes the narrative that profound hope and faith are realized not through sudden grand gestures, but through the **slow, deliberate, and quiet accumulation of persistent small acts**.

© Jaclyn Bae | Hand-Dyed Paper Art | Fine Art of Fiber Exhibition (2018)


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