Washi Exploratory

2022 | Material Study & Scenography
What associations does hand-made paper evoke today? The craft of Sekishu Washi is carried on by only three remaining workshops in the region of Shimane. Used for centuries in Japanese architecture and popular craft items, washi paper is strongly rooted in traditional applications. But what happens when this special material is placed in contemporary or industrial contexts?
What new potentials are then revealed? Inspired by its high endurance, strength, and sustainable production method, the Washi Exploratory investigates the (im)material qualities of washi. In the shape of an interactive paper installation, different treatments of Sekishu Washi are displayed that communicate the paper’s unique properties and reflect on new perceptions of washi. Using a handheld washi light, visitors are invited to illuminate and freely explore the many facets and possibilities with this paper.

For objects and structures, paper is commonly paired with wood – given the natural, warm touch they have in common. For these washi lights, handmade paper was paired with anodized aluminium for a new material twist. The metal is anodized to protect its surface, but also to give it a color richness that softens the bridge to washi. These lights are made in collaboration with Studio Loop Loop, a Rotterdam-based design studio specialized in self-made tools for innovative and autonomous production. 

The Washi Exploratory is initiated by designers Cream on Chrome, Satomi Minoshima, and Pauline Agustoni. The project is a collaboration with Sekishu Washi artisans So Kubota and Masaru Nishita, and is supported by Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Japan. Photos: Yuta Samawura