Paper as Peace
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| Work on rice paper , Flood fence. |
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| Older ringlock fencing. It is now mass produced in China. |
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| Zebra finches(above) and Double barred finches (below) |
I have been carrying around some sheets of hand made kozo paper from Japan, waiting for the right moment to make a mark. The process of making the papers is dated back to the Edo period. I was honoured to go with staff and students from Joshibi university to Paper Nao in Tokyo where the director, Naoaki Sakamoto spoke about the various papers and the connection to people of the world through paper. Although he obviously spoke in Japanese, it was not hard to sense his impassioned views on the importance of paper in Japan compared to how it is percieved in the West.
Hanging these papers on fences in areas quite removed from where they were made is like an exchange of humanites. During these performances, I am a documenter, spectator or as Paul Klee says , a 'humble mediator'. The works act as a witness to changes and shifts in these regions. Through this I am recording what is there, and what may have come before.
Also paper can be fragile and at times as strong as canvas. It is one of the closest materials to draw on that evokes qualities of the earth and water. It responds instantly to water, pigments and grease. I also had the privelage of watching and participating in paper making with Baba Sensei at Joshibi University.
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| Baba Sensai demonstrates paper making. at Joshibi University, Tokyo. Kozo fibres of different grades. |
www.curatormagazine.com/rachelcarvosso/paper-gives-peace/
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