The wave

Wave by Jaclyn Bae, hand-dyed paper artwork inspired by the ocean’s motion, vitality, and rhythm

© Jaclyn Bae 2025 | All images protected under copyright.

Wave | Hand-Dyed Paper Art

The work “Wave” is hand-dyed and folded using traditional Korean paper-folding techniques. During my visit to the southern coast of Korea, I was mesmerized by the sea’s ever-changing colors — the waves seemed alive, endlessly dancing with light. Through the texture and folds of paper, this piece expresses the ocean’s rhythm, vitality, and the pulse of nature in continuous motion.

Created through repeated dyeing, folding, layering, and drying, the work captures movement not only in imagery but in process itself.


### **In-Depth Analysis: The Psychology of Blue, Water, and Repetitive Process**

The "Wave" series utilizes the profound symbolic language of the ocean, which in art and psychology represents the **rhythm of life, continuous change, and the unpredictable nature of human emotion**. The **deep blue and indigo palette** reinforces this emotional depth, conveying a sense of **calmness, stability, and thoughtful introspection** associated with the vastness of the sea and sky.


The repeated use of the Korean paper-folding technique, **Jong-i jeobgi**, elevates the artistic process to a **therapeutic meditation**. The action of repeated dyeing, folding, and layering mirrors the **cyclical nature of life and the Buddhist concept of impermanence**—the belief that all things are transient and ever-changing. By assembling countless simple, folded units into a complex, fluid form, the artist visualizes the creation of **complex natural order from disciplined, mindful repetition**. This focus on the *process* itself, capturing movement through meticulous accumulation, embodies **resilience** and the quiet, persistent energy of nature’s dominance.


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

Exhibition view of 'Wave' by Jaclyn Bae at the Fine Art of Fiber 2018, showing folded paper resembling ocean currents

Installation view · Fine Art of Fiber 2018


See also: Birth of Hope

Continuing the theme of faith and nature, Birth of Hope reflects light and renewal through hand-dyed paper folds. Together with Wave, it forms a dialogue between water and light — between hope and flow.

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

Birth of Hope | Hand-Dyed Paper Art

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