Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper

Passed down from one generation to the next, the painstaking production techniques of washi stands at the intersection of tradition and innovation. Its everlasting and continuously evolving importance as a medium is as result of the ingenuity of Japanese contemporary artists, who have pushed the practice beyond its conventional applications to instead, create incredibly textured two-dimensional artworks, dynamic sculptures, and striking installations. Washi, which translates to “Japanese paper,” has been fundamental to Japanese culture for more than a thousand years. Prized for its strong natural fibers, translucency, and malleability, the unique properties of this paper have made it extremely versatile and ubiquitous. Historically, washi has been used in Japanese calligraphy, painting, and printmaking. However, when oiled, lacquered, or modified in other manners, it has other fascinating uses that extend into architecture, religious ritual, fashion, and art.

Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper presents over 30 highly textured two-dimensional works, expressive sculptures, and dramatic installations that explore the astonishing potential of this traditional medium. In this exhibition, nine Japanese artists embrace the seemingly infinite possibilities of washi, underscoring the unique stature this ancient art form has earned in the realm of international contemporary art. The breathtaking creativity of these artistic visionaries deepens our understanding of how the past informs the present, and how it can build lasting cultural bridges out of something as seemingly simple and ephemeral as paper.

Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper was organized by Meher McArthur and is toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC. Meher McArthur is an independent curator and historian of Japanese art. She previously served as the Art & Cultural Director of Japan House, Los Angeles, and Curator of East Asian Art at Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, CA and curated the IA&A traveling exhibitions Folding Paper: The Infinite Possibilities of Origami (2012–2016) and Above the Fold: New Expressions in Contemporary Origami (20152020) and co-curated Nature, Tradition and Innovation: Japanese Ceramics from the Gordon Brodfuehrer Collection (2016–2019). McArthur received an MA in Japanese Studies from Cambridge University; a postgraduate diploma in Asian Art from Sotheby’s School of Oriental Studies (SOAS), London University; and an MA in Art and Archaeology from SOAS, London University. She has published widely on Asian art and culture.