Incense Sticks Create Pointillist Utopias

Korean artist Jihyun Park destroys in order to create. For Incense Series, the artist presses red-hot incense sticks to rice paper to create what are described as abstract meditations on the concept of utopia. A multitude of minute holes form pointillist landscapes, shadowy skylines, and ash animals that draw upon several literary works including Gulliver’s Travels, Utopia, Erewhon, and the animated Japanese film Castle In the Sky—and specifically, their visions of perfect societies—as inspirations. His unique choice of hot-tipped tool further reflects his theme through subtle yet pleasing word-play: in Korean, the word "utopia" is "Yi Sang Hwang." According to the artist, "hwang" itself means "incense."

Below, see how Park achieves his utopias—and possibly yours as well—through a countless mass of miniature burn marks:

Via My Modern Met

Related:

Artist Uses Bees to Build Honeycomb Sculptures

Li Hongbo Carves Silhouettes From Butcher Knives

Watch These Intricate Illustrations Come to Life Using Sand and Light