Wrappings of Happiness

“Wrappings of Happiness: A Traditional Korean Art Form” beautifully documents the pojagi, a traditional wrapping cloth that Koreans have for centuries used for wrapping, storing and transporting precious and ordinary objects. 

Pojagi occupied a prominent place in the lives of Koreans of all classes during the Choson dynasty (1892-1910), and were used not only for wrapping but for a variety of purposes, from covering a food table, to draping a Confucian or Buddhist altar, to protecting a sacred text. Wrapping an object with a pojagi represented not only a concern for what was being wrapped, but also respect for its receiver. Pojagi are typically made of silk, gossamer, cotton, or ramie, in a diverse array of colors and designs and a wide range of construction techniques: sometimes lined or unlined, padded or quilted, embroidered or even painted. 

The 61 exquisite selections included in this book date from the 18th through the 20th centuries and were on display at the Honolulu Academy of Arts in an exhibition held in late 2003. Supported with a lucid and informative text, they constitute a fascinating introduction into a brilliant textile art.

This 112-page, 9 x 12 inch softcover was published by the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu, Hawaii in 2003.