| Title | Language Switch |
| Artist / Creator | Jana Sim |
| Artist's Nationality | Republic of Korea |
| Place of Publication | Seoul |
| Publication Date | 2025 |
| Process / Technique | Hand-bound in a Dos-à-Dos structure using Tyvek paper. Includes a wooden ear sculpture, hand-carved by the artist’s father |
| Structure / Binding | Dos-à-Dos structure, hand-bound |
| Medium / Materials | Tyvek paper, linen thread, wooden ear sculpture |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 4.5 x 5.5 x 3 inches |
| Edition Size | Limited edition of 15 |
| Box / Wrapper | Four-sided opening box |
| Signed & Numbered | Signed and numbered edition |
Language Switch by Jana Sim
Language Switch is an artist book that explores my experience of Korean and English in daily life, showing how language becomes a ritual shaping identity. When I focus, English is a structured language; without focus, it fades into rhythm, like music. Korean, however, is always present, surrounding and grounding me—it cannot be switched off, whether I want it or not.
The book is designed in a Dos-à-Dos structure, with one side opening to the "Korean Switch" and the other to the "English Switch." This format reflects how I navigate both languages, each influencing my perception differently. Switching between them feels like a ritual—English offers a choice of engagement, while Korean remains a constant presence, tying me to my roots and shaping my sense of self.
Inside the book is a wooden sculpture of my ear, hand-carved by my father, symbolizing the physical act of listening and the deeply personal process of experiencing language.
Artist Bio
Jana Sim is a book artist born and raised in Korea. In 2002, she moved to the United States to study art. While majoring in painting at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she discovered book arts and quickly became captivated by it. She later earned her MFA in Book & Paper from Columbia College Chicago. Her works have been showcased in international exhibitions and are part of collections at universities, museums, and with private collectors. In 2012, she returned to Korea and began learning traditional Korean latticework from her father, a master artisan recognized as Seoul’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. She started combining book arts with traditional lattice designs, creating works that connect personal stories with Korean traditions. Her work explores themes of memory and connection, offering a unique and meaningful artistic perspective.