The functional becomes decorative twice over in the works of South Korean artist Cheong-ah Hwang, currently on display at the North Oak Gallery. With exquisite, meticulous detail, she embosses, cuts, pastes, punctures and scores paper to recreate objects that look good while they serve a purpose.

Sometimes sinister connotations arise. An ivory corset forms a shape not found in nature, popping out of its frame in three-dimensional curves. A rooster (is he an alarm clock, or food?) is rendered in a complicated assemblage of folded paper feathers.

The artist takes an entire wall to present miniature visions of details from restored Victorian homes. Doors and windows appear with a wonderful depth, holding frosted glass made from something like tissue that allows a peek at gossamer curtains.

"I began my paper sculpture with exploring what paper can do," Hwang said at the show's opening. "[The houses] are all really well decorated. People put their energy into making them beautiful."

But there is a dark side to such gorgeous possessions: "They're so precious, they're untouchable."

Bone Shoes, a visual companion piece to her corset, presents footwear like something out of a fairy tale. Along with the inherent untouchable factor attached to art on the wall, these shoes are like new white carpet-extravagant but intimidating. Tissue keeps them perfectly shaped, and a price tag is still looped around one buckle.

The price tag is a reminder that the artist, in her way, is questioning the value and purpose of art itself, but that doesn't mean one can't take her interpretation of an object home. "It's the same thing when people buy it," she said with an infectious grin. "It's a circle."

Adorned, paper sculpture by Cheong-ah Hwang, hangs at North Oak Gallery through November 30. For gallery hours, dial 268-5075.