By: Ali Brown (She/Her)
As the COVID-19 pandemic forced galleries to shut their doors, Propeller Art Gallery shifted many of its upcoming exhibitions online for the community to enjoy its exciting programming from the safety and comfort of home. The exhibit Washi Sisters: A journey, set to be on view at the gallery during this time, was an exception. As Japanese Heritage Washi paper contains countless intricacies that a 2-D image alone cannot conceivably capture, artists of the Washi Sisters collective came to a mutual agreement that until they could hold it in person, the show would not go on.
As a
Disabled person passionate about accessibility and alternative formats, I very
much enjoy opportunities for gallery viewing from the comfort of my home,
whether by necessity or by choice. Not having encountered Heritage Washi
before, hearing about the paper’s material complexity inspired me to dive in
deeper into its sensory qualities. I set out with the question: How can I
describe characteristics of Heritage Washi that cannot be effectively
translated through 2-D images for folks who are only able to access the
exhibition in an online format? This called for a visit to The Japanese Paper
Place located in Etobicoke, Ontario, a wholesale retailer of Heritage Washi and
other fine Japanese papers, and a community partner for the Washi Sisters
exhibit.
Entering
The Japanese Paper Place showroom, I was warmly welcomed by fine paper
specialist Sigrid Blohm. Supplied with a comprehensive verbal summary of
Washi's history, infographics, and referral to further resources, I was
captivated by the meticulous process involved in the fabrication of the papers
that lay in the binders I flipped through. Sigrid prepared samples to
graciously provide me with for further exploration. I slowed down and noticed
the subtle differences between papers made with kozo, mitsumata
and gampi fibres. I imagine that the Washi Sisters initial introductions
to Heritage Washi paper made them feel like a kid in a candy store. There are
so many variations of this beautiful paper and potential artistic processes to
explore with it due to its versatility. Reading the Washi Sisters artist
statements, I gather they were in search of a unique material that would show
raw beauty and movement, accentuate natural and organic aesthetics, and provide
endless possibilities for material exploration. The more time you spend with
washi, the more time you want to spend with it, as there is always something
new to discover or learn.
The
following video includes a visual and oral description of the sensory qualities
of washi made with kozo, mitsumata and gampi fibres. I
describe details such as what the textures remind me of, how Heritage Washi
reveals itself in the light, the sounds the paper makes, and the how delicate,
yet strong it feels. I hope this alternative and accessible introduction will
add another dimension to the Propeller Gallery's online content to evoke an
appreciation of the material intricacies of Heritage Washi for audiences who
cannot attend the in-gallery exhibition.
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