Ritual and Process: Filming La Cérémonie de l’Encens with Park Ji Hyun

La Cérémonie de l’Encens with Park Ji Hyun

8/3/26

Moktan Productions produced a short commercial for L’Artisan Parfumeur’s La Cérémonie de l’Encens, centered on the work of Korean artist Park Ji Hyun. Known for his distinctive technique of burning thousands of holes into hanji paper using incense, Park creates intricate landscapes that explore themes of memory, impermanence, and the balance between creation and destruction.

The film is built around his artwork Illusion of Empty, developed as a tribute to the fragrance, and uses his voice to connect artistic philosophy with process and result.

A Voice Rooted in Process

Park Ji Hyun’s voice-over serves as the narrative foundation of the film, guiding the viewer through his way of thinking as well as his method of working. Rather than external interpretation, the story is told directly through the artist’s perspective—linking material, gesture, and meaning.

His reflections move between the conceptual and the physical, grounding abstract ideas in the act of creation itself.

“I see incense as having a fragile existence, yet at the same time, it carries a strong voice.”

Burning as a Method of Creation

At the core of Park’s work is a paradoxical process: images are formed through destruction. Using burning incense, he methodically creates thousands of perforations in hanji paper, building tonal variation and depth through absence rather than addition.

The film emphasizes this transformation—capturing the gradual emergence of imagery through repetition, control, and time. Each mark becomes part of a larger composition, reinforcing the relationship between fragility and precision.

Connecting Art and Fragrance

The collaboration with L’Artisan Parfumeur is rooted in shared themes of ritual and introspection. La Cérémonie de l’Encens draws on the sensory and symbolic qualities of incense, which are mirrored in Park’s artistic practice.

By aligning his process with the identity of the fragrance, the film creates a dialogue between visual art and scent—where both are shaped by time, intention, and subtle variation.

“The fact that incense creates something while dissolving itself, is intriguing to me, and so I use it as a material in my work.”

Filming Within the Studio Environment

Production took place within Park’s studio, where the atmosphere plays a central role in the visual language of the film. Light, texture, and material were treated as primary elements, with close attention given to the surface of the hanji paper and the movement of the burning incense.

Moktan Productions handled all on-location filming and professional audio capture, ensuring that both the visual detail and the artist’s voice were recorded with clarity and precision.

Building a Tactile Visual Language

The visual approach focuses on materiality—capturing the fine details of the paper, the glow of the incense, and the gradual accumulation of marks. Close-up imagery is balanced with wider compositions that situate the work within the studio space.

This combination allows the viewer to move between micro and macro perspectives, reinforcing both the intimacy and scale of the process.

Supporting Art and Branded Content in Korea

This project reflects Moktan Productions’ experience producing art-driven branded content in Korea. From shaping the narrative approach to executing on-location filming, Moktan worked to translate a highly tactile and conceptual practice into a clear and engaging visual format.

Through a focus on process, voice, and atmosphere, the film presents a cohesive interpretation of both the artist’s work and the identity of the fragrance.