Studio Yeonjae Showcases Crafts at 'Maison & Objet Paris'

Combining Clay and Paper to Create Unique Textures
Distinct Paper Grain Achieved Without the Use of Glaze

Crafts from the Yeoji series presented by Studio Yeonjae at the 2025 Maison & Objet Paris. Provided by Studio Yeonjae

Studio Yeonjae announced on September 11 that craft cultural products from the Gwangju region recently participated in the 2025 Maison & Objet Paris, the world's largest lifestyle fair.

The Gwangju Design Center operated a joint exhibition and promotional booth for Gwangju craft cultural products at the "Maison & Objet Paris," which was held for five days from the 4th to the 8th (local time) at the Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center in Paris, France.

Founded in 1995, "Maison & Objet Paris" is the world's largest lifestyle fair, with over 2,300 brands from more than 140 countries participating annually in a 130,000-square-meter exhibition hall, attracting tens of thousands of buyers. The purpose of participating was to promote not only Korean traditional culture but also Gwangju craft products to the global market and to support the overseas expansion of outstanding products.

Participating for the third consecutive year, the Gwangju Design Center set up a 36-square-meter Gwangju Craft Joint Pavilion in the central Craft section of the exhibition. The independent booth featured over 60 types of craft products in fields such as ceramics, textiles, and Hanji (traditional Korean paper), with plans to consult with buyers from around the world and pursue entry into overseas markets.

Studio Yeonjae participated in the "2025 Maison & Objet Paris" held from the 4th to the 8th (local time) at the Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center in Paris, France. Provided by Studio Yeonjae

Studio Yeonjae participated in Maison & Objet for the first time this year, presenting craftworks from the "Yeoji Series," including Moon Jars. The Yeoji Series is a project that combines clay and discarded paper to create new textures.

Rather than using a specific type of paper, a variety of waste paper is utilized. This includes scraps generated during Hanji production or commercialization, egg trays, newspapers, paper bags, and uncoated toilet paper rolls.

These papers, when combined with clay, acquire new material properties, resulting in a texture on ceramics that highlights the unique fibers of the paper. Since glaze is generally not used, the grain of the paper stands out even more, and if needed, only a minimal amount is added.

'Yeoji Series' Craftwork Production Process. Provided by Studio Series

After preparing the clay, the paper is soaked to restore its fibers, then mixed to create a new material. This mixture is either spread out in sheets or applied to the surface of objects to express the paper’s texture. After drying, the pieces are fired in a kiln to complete the process.

A representative from Studio Yeonjae stated, "The Yeoji Series is not just a craftwork, but a cyclical process that breathes new life into discarded materials and an experimental attempt to transfer the texture of paper onto ceramics."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.