A Hybrid Publication
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.
Limited Edition
Washi Futurism is an essential reference book for creative professionals who like to inform their choices by a material’s origin story and cultural context.
Unique Paper Samples
Behaving neither quite like regular paper, nor like textile, Sekishu Washi bears fascinating properties. Its versatility is demonstrated through fourteen high end paper samples produced by ateliers in Misumi, highlighting their specific qualities and common usages.
Interviews
In five interviews, different generations of papermakers reflect on skills, tradition, changing times, the long path of learning and what the craft means to them.
Applications
While in Japan, we were surrounded by examples of how Sekishu Washi is used in art, design and architecture. A selection of these findings are paired with practical instructions, since we very much recommend exploring this paper in a hands-on fashion.
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM
This project was initiated by two NL-based design duos, Cream on Chrome (Jonas Althaus and Martina Huynh) and Craft Portrait (Pauline Agustoni and Satomi Minoshima).
In the summer of 2023, the designers spent two months in Misumi, Japan, to learn from and collaborate with papermakers So Kubota and Masaru Nishita. Both are young successors of family businesses focused on the production of Sekishu Washi, a process designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
So Kubota
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Masaru Nishita
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Craft Portrait
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Cream on Chrome
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Client Testimonials
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“A testimonial from a client who benefited from your product or service. Testimonials can be a highly effective way of establishing credibility and increasing your company's reputation.”
Client Name
“A testimonial from a client who benefited from your product or service. Testimonials can be a highly effective way of establishing credibility and increasing your company's reputation.”
Client Name