Asian calligraphy and ink-brush scrolls take on three-dimensional forms in Jae Ko’s sculptures made of coils of paper dyed with inks and graphite powder. The Korean-born artist creates a new visual language with elegant spirals and ribbon installations that can take on monumental proportions. Ko grew up in Tokyo and received her BFA from Wako University. She went on to earn her MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art and today lives and works in DC. Her work has garnered critical attention, most recently for her site-specific installations, and is in the collection of the Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and The Phillips Collection in Washington DC.
"I have worked with paper for over forty years. My practice is rooted in this fundamental material, its inherent qualities, various forms, and its potential to reflect the wonders of the natural world.
I draw from topographic, geologic, architectural, and Constructivist influences. I see intrinsic connections between rock cores, landscapes, and architecture—as both form and function. Early twentieth-century Constructivism also informs my practice, particularly the “objects” formed through juxtaposing volumes.
I employ a range of techniques to create three-dimensional forms. In many of my larger works, I unroll layers of adding machine paper from their original tight coils, then re-roll them loosely to allow for manipulation. I twist, stack, fold, soak, cut, bury, or expose the paper to sunlight, observing how it reacts to these processes.
My works evolve through experimentation with papers that vary in texture, thickness, width, and color. I frequently use massive quantities of recycled kraft paper and other industrial paper rolls. Large-scale installations arise from tightly-packed bundles of kraft paper that gradually loosen as the installation progresses in height. This shift creates folds, pleats, and gaps reminiscent of rolling hills, blowing wind, ocean tides, and Arctic glaciers. My installations often appear to be in constant motion: fine-edged paper trundles create curvilinear drawings in space. This interplay of line and volume, movement and solidity reflect the visual complexities of the natural environment. My work is a continual shaping and reshaping of the world we live in."
Artist Statement