Washi Art — A Traditional Japanese Art
Washi is the Japanese word for the traditional paper made from the long inner fibers of three different plants. Wa means Japanese and shi means paper. This technique for making exquisite paper was introduced to Japan in the early 7th century by Buddhist monks from China. To this day it is still made by hand, one sheet at a time. Washi is strong and with proper care it has been known to last over 100 years. Washi has been used in Japan for many centuries. Kyoko travels to Japan to personally select the washi used in her work.
The final product of this art form resembles a watercolor painting. Upon closer examination, one can see that no paint is used. The entire picture is created by painstakingly teasing the rice paper apart and laying individual fibers down to create a sublimely textured image. The final result is a complexity of color and depth that is breathtaking.
All of Kyoko's originals begin with a pencil drawing and the final product can take months to create. Kyoko also creates Kiri-e (cut paper art) and Washi Kogei (handmade traditional washi boxes). |