From April 13 through August 11, 2017, the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking at Georgia Tech presents Hanji Pilgrimage from Korea to Ohio: Dard Hunter to Aimee Lee, 1933 – 2014. This exhibit presents the images taken and artifacts gathered in Korea in 1933 by paper historian Dard Hunter alongside the images and artwork by Aimee Lee inspired by her research visits to Korea in 2008-2009 and 2014. Hunter's 20th-century photographs of making hanji (Korean paper) remain to this day some of the most accessible and informative documentation of the process, used by Koreans themselves to educate the public about hanji. Lee's research in the 21st century uncovered not only the traditional steps in making hanji, but a host of paper arts that have been active in Korea over centuries.

The artwork displayed in this show highlights the strength and versatility of hanji in traditional and contemporary forms, from dyed and textured sheets of paper to sculpture and garments. This lineage of research, making, and sharing information continues over 80 years to bring new insights about Korean paper heritage to today's audiences. Lee’s book, Hanji Unfurled (The Legacy Press, 2012) was inspired by Hunter's A Papermaking Pilgrimage to Japan, Korea and China (Pynson Printers, 1936). Upon her return to the U.S. from her Fulbright research trip, she built the first hanji studio in North America in Ohio, Hunter's home state. Lee is continuously exploring hanji and its many uses, and the pieces in the exhibit reflect both Korean history and artistic ingenuity.
Teri Williams, Museum Director, says, “Lee’s work interprets ancient traditions with a contemporary vision. We are pleased to have the opportunity to present this fine exhibition to the greater Atlanta community.”

The Hanji Pilgrimage is divided into three main sections: what is hanji and how is it made, comparisons between historic traditions and modern practice, and an exploration of how this craft evolved as a contemporary art form.