Make a paper　vol.3

A piece of paper made by Rogier Uitenboogaart gives us a poetic and unique worldview.

It is neither so-called traditional Washi nor Western cotton paper. Its world can be generated because of Mr. Rogier, and it is “a representation of the air of the land” beyond time and space; furthermore, “Western wind and time” that continuously flows at his heart lives, I feel.

Someday ago. We have been there to see fusuma paper that remains at Katsura Imperial Villa (桂離宮, Katsura Rikyū) in Kyoto. He asked me if he wanted to see Kyoto’s traditional papers and patterns to collect the image source of the work. So I thought that the place that past “its appearance and atmosphere” remains like a capsule might be the best, rather than the so-called modern-day traditional craft. I know! I remembered Katsura Imperial Villa, so we visited.

Katsura Imperial Villa is an extremely “non-Japanese” space. It is also a place full of “Western essence.” It was when Christians were suppressed due to political change at that time, and Katsura Imperial Villa was built during the transition. Of course, intellectuals and snobs at that time were inspired by a sophisticated aesthetic sense of Western, and in common with these, Katsura Imperial Villa was also much inspired by such “pursuit of cutting edge beauty.” At any rate, even though it is a tea room, an open kitchen is established and designed as a very “modern space.”

However, at that place, it is said that there is another hidden meaning. “Prayer” to Christians passed away is expressed as “stone lanterns.” Those who reacted very much were Mr. Rogier. “I felt like I was deeply emotionally moved, close to nostalgic,” he said. Although the Edo period was the time being shut out from inflows from other countries, it was also when the Netherlands culture and knowledge entered and spread among some intellectuals.

Fusuma paper with a houndstooth check is designed in blue and white contrast. Its expression was bold and not a so-called soft Japanese style, an entirely innovative and novel appearance. I quietly convinced myself while looking at Mr. Rogier, who was seriously observing fusuma papers one by one eagerly. It seems that it may not be a coincidence that he traveled to this small island from the Netherlands as if he was led there; as a matter of fact, I wonder if it might be a very natural thing.

This country has a history that we have uniquely grown it up as its own culture despite being greatly influenced by the Netherlands once. The Japanese tradition has never developed just within the small island. It has been generated because of collaborating various activities and cultures. The accumulated flows of time and history probably led Mr. Rogier, who was in youth at that time, to this country.

There is a piece of paper that can only be created by Rogier Uitenboogaart. The piece of paper that is like one story beyond time and space is filled with a very nostalgic atmosphere.