Understated Aesthetics of Japan’s Gifu Come to Town

(JG Photo)

The finely cut pieces adorn the ceiling, looking like tapestries made of clouds. While the delicately cut cats, spiders and beetles command the viewers’ attention, a closer look shows that the devil is in the details.

The fine, wispy texture makes delicate cuts seem unlikely. But the paper lends itself well to the job at hand, as its seemingly fragile, delicate texture belies a little-known, understated strength and versatility.

Known as washi paper, the material highlights Gifu Design Week, the first of its kind to be showcased in Indonesia. Held at Dia.lo.gue Artspace in Kemang, South Jakarta, the papers wonders from Japan’s Gifu prefecture are highlighted by the region’s governor, Hajime Furuta, and eminent Indonesian designer Harry Darsono.

“Washi paper is versatile enough to be made into overcoats, hats and other garments. It can also be made in thin and thick layers,” says Harry, who sported a pair of socks and a wide-brimmed hat from the same material. “Its strength and versatility also make it ideal for all climates. It can also be interwoven with other cloths like nylon and Dacron to tailor it for cold and warm climates, respectively.”

Ieda Manabu, the head of Gifu’s craftmanship association, backs this up.

“Washi paper is delicate but strong, so it’s no wonder that they cost 10,227 Japanese yen or Rp 1.176 million [nearly $100] per sheet. For instance, snowflake Christmas decorations from the material can be reused up to 30 times and retain their quality,” he says, pointing to a number of washi snowflakes that look almost as fine as the real thing. “In traditional Japanese paper lamps such as those made by Isamu Noguchi, their delicately translucent qualities make them shine brighter and have less distortion than their paper counterparts.”

It doesn’t take long to see what Manabu means. Made with a delicate yet durable touch, as well as the aesthetic sense and craftmanship that are trademarks of Japanese workmanship, the lamps range from the ubiquitous round or oval patterns, to futuristic polka-dot and cylindrical shapes. The lamps draw the viewers’ curiosity due to their ergonomic light weight and portability, as well as their unique shapes.

Harry attributes the high price of washi paper to a number of factors.

“Washi is more expensive than silk. While silk can be made anywhere, washi paper is confined to Gifu because it’s made from the leaves of the washi plant that is endemic to the area. It is also largely unknown outside of Japan because of a lack of promotion and marketing, which perhaps stems from the Japanese people’s wish to keep the material a secret,” says Harry, who only heard of washi paper when he went to Japan in 2012. “But I did my bit in spreading the word about washi paper by marketing it in Brunei and Saudi Arabia. I have yet to sell it in Indonesia until I can find a niche market in the country for the product.”

The washi paper isn’t the only star of the show; an array of wooden furniture and ceramic utensils inspired by Gifu’s natural beauty is also a highlight.

In one corner, a so called Step Step stool catches the eye with what looks like a tail. However, the tail turns out to be a shoehorn.

On the other hand, wooden plates shaped like lotus petals appeal to the senses with their aesthetics and ultra light weight. Made of cedar, the plates are simply made by slicing wood from the tree, which is abundant in Gifu.

“The items are inspired by age old traditional designs from Gifu,” Manabu says.

“They are marked for their improvisation, which comes from a tradition of making do with the materials at hand. This sense of innovation makes many of the designs open to influence by foreign designs. For instance, some of the items are influenced by Egyptian jewelry, while some of the animal motifs in the washi tapestry are made by German and Russian artisans.”

The spirit of improvisation also extends to Japanese artist Naruse Kiroshi, who since 1998 has been exploring the potential of paper made from banana leaves.

“Banana paper and washi paper have much in common, namely in that they can be made thick or thin. Like washi, this quality enables it to be made into clothes,” says Kiroshi, who has been living in Bali since 1995.

“One of the differences is that banana leaves are perhaps longer and wider than washi leaves. But since they are similarly versatile, this makes their differences superficial.”

Gifu Design Week

Through June 15

Dia.lo.gue Artspace

Jl. Kemang Selatan No. 99

A,South Jakarta

Tel. 021 719 9671

dialogue-artspace.com