Between Two Worlds – 두 세계 사이, is a contemporary reinterpretation of the norigae (노리개), a traditional Korean accessory, blending cultural craft with the aesthetics of my midwestern upbringing.
The norigae, historically worn with the Korean traditional dress, hanbok (한복), is a pendant and fashion accessory believed to bring good fortune. Its design incorporates a combination of Korean knotwork (maedeup, 매듭) that represents cultural symbols and motifs related to identity, protection, and longevity.
I reinterpret the norigae by combining its traditional elements with midwestern styles and symbolism. By fusing these two worlds of design, I explore the intersections of traditional & modern craft and Korean & Western aesthetics.
This project is an accessory and an ode to my Korean-Canadian identity—reflecting on diaspora, hybridity, and cultural reclamation. The knots, both literal and metaphorical, embody the entanglements of identity, while the juxtaposition of traditional knotwork with non-traditional materials speaks to the contrasts and continuities of my lived experience.
Between Two Worlds – 두 세계 사이 exists in the liminal space of my two worlds to belong and become, where identity is not fixed but constantly exists and evolves between two cultures.