SDA Book Club: Bojagi reviewed by Lauren Sinner
October 4, 2024
Bojagi: The Art of Korean Textiles by Youngmin Lee
I had the pleasure of getting to co-jury this year’s Exhibition in Print alongside Youngmin Lee, and I am equally excited to get to review her new book, Bojagi: The Art of Korean Textiles. As someone who is quite familiar with bojagi, but nowhere near an expert, this book was a huge help for understanding its deeper historical and material contexts.
The book opens with the simple question: What are Bojagi? “Bojagi are traditional Korean wrapping cloths. They were used to wrap, cover, carry, or store objects in daily life, on special occasions, and in religious rituals” (pg 12). They hold importance in both everyday life as well as for holidays like Lunar New Year and the Full Moon Festival. Throughout the entire book, there are beautiful photographs and images that accompany the text. From how-to illustrations for all the various stitches and techniques, to the different types of fabric used, and stunning photos of finished work, Bojagi is about 50/50 text to images.
In the “Techniques” section, Youngmin goes over the different types of stitches used in bojagi. Many of these stitches will be familiar with seasoned sewers, but she also gives context to their Korean names. Examples include homjil (running stitch), gamchimjil (whip stitch), bageumjil (back stitch), sangchim (top stitch), gonggeureugi (blind or slip stitch), and many more.
A majority of the book (pages 60–135) features project examples with step-by-step instructions and beautiful photos. Most of these projects are utilitarian objects like bags (kkot jumeoni), pin cushions (oyat kkot/nemo bangseok), placemats (yeonnip), book sleeves, and more. Each project includes the finished size, materials needed, stitches used (all of which are outlined in the beginning), and any extra notes on the project. I really appreciated the range of projects, how clear the instructions were, and the balance between providing a history on the craft while still teaching techniques.
Bojagi ends with examples of Youngmin’s work and illustrates how experienced and knowledgeable she is with bojagi. It also includes images of her personal collection of others’ bojagi she has amassed over the years. At the very end, there is a bibliography, museum listing, video archive, and project templates that are super helpful for anyone who wants to continue learning more about bojagi or see it in person. At only $28 new, Bojagi: The Art of Korean Textiles is a great addition to any fiber or textile artist’s library.
- Publisher: Bloomsbury (buy it here)
- Date: September 2024
- ISBN: 9781789941838
If you’ve read this book, leave a comment and let us know what you think!
Do you have a recommendation for a recent fiber-related book you think should be included in SDA’s Book Club? Email SDA’s Managing Editor, Lauren Sinner, to let her know!
