Made in Japan since the 8th century, traditional washi paper has been used throughout the ages to make everything from furniture to fashion, to Buddhist scriptures and balloon bombs. Mino, a city located in the Gifu Prefecture in central Japan is renowned for its washi paper production, which has thrived there due to the plentiful supplies of mulberry bark, which the washi craftspeople wash in the clear waters of the city's Nagara and Itadori rivers. In 2014, the paper making techniques were added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Popularised in the 20th century thanks to designs such as Isamu Noguchi's Akari lamp (which incidentally was inspired by the lanterns used on Gifu fishing boats), washi paper is frequently incorporated into contemporary furniture design and is now the focus of a new exhibition at East London gallery, The Proud Archivist.
'The way that Japanese people think about paper is different,' says the shows organiser Ryoko Mutasono. 'Not just something disposable for note-taking, or the daily read - it exists as a strong material, closer to fabric. The strength and quality of Mino's paper is legendary - and I hope that the exhibition demonstrates some of its possibilities. We wanted to bring this classic Japanese craft to a contemporary setting, in east London, and while the nearby canal waters aren't quite as clear as those in which the paper is made in Mino - we hope we've captured something of the mood.'
The ten-day show is the first major exhibition of Japanese washi paper in the UK and brings together works by Noguchi and modern day designers such as Swiss studio Atelier Oï, among others. As well as shedding light on the history of this ancient craft, the showcase will also provide visitors with the chance to purchase paper products and take part in interactive workshops.
Focusing specifically on the papers produced in Mino, a city located in the Gifu Prefecture in central Japan, the showcase sheds light on the history of this ancient craft, while examining its new and contemporary applications
Gifu is a city renowned for its washi paper production thanks to plentiful supplies of mulberry bark, washed in the clear waters of the city's Nagara and Itadori rivers
20th century designer Isamu Noguchi's Akari lamp was inspired by the lanterns used on Gifu fishing boats
The ten-day show brings together works by Noguchi and modern day designers such as Swiss studio Atelier Oï, among others
The showcase will also provide visitors with the chance to purchase paper products and take part in interactive workshops
INFORMATION
'Mino Washi from Gifu' is on view until 13 November
ADDRESS
The Proud Archivist
2–10 Hertford Road
London, N1 5SH
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