Journey into the beauty, craftsmanship, and local material culture behind the traditional Japanese paper

Handmade Japanese paper, known as washi, has been used for centuries in everyday products and traditional architecture. Compared to Western paper, it has a high plasticity, unique texture and is surprisingly strong. To showcase these properties as well as the artisanal values behind them, the self-published bilingual book “Washi Futurism” dives into the craft’s history, current developments, and virtue for the future. Fourteen original Sekishu Washi samples reveal their fascinating qualities, followed by testimonies of the artisans, essays by local experts, design applications and hands-on instructions.

The exhibition ‘Washi Futurism’ is an immersive journey into the beauty, craftsmanship, and local material culture behind the traditional Japanese paper Sekishu Washi. Based on a book publication of the same name, Washi Futurism invites visitors to dive into the cosmos of this special paper by viewing a floating, luminous paper installation, experiencing close-up videos of material tests, gaining insights into the production steps, and by exploring the paper’s texture and pliability with their own hands. the exhibition focuses on current developments and experimental routes of washi, alongside showcasing the paper’s properties and rich history.
In the light of an increased awareness for sustainable materials and regenerative systems, Washi Futurism invites contemporary design, architecture and art practices to view traditional crafts not as relics of the past, but as integral part of our shared future.

Meer informatie: Washi Futurism Collective