Papercut Wonders

Japanese paper artist Nahoko Kojima was selected for the Jerwood Makers Open 2013, annual award and exhibition of new commissions by five emerging makers working at the forefront of applied art, and part of the Jerwood Visual Arts (JVA) in London. For this occasion the artist has been commissioned to create a new sculptural papercut piece, entitled Byaku — a Japanese word meaning White — and representing a swimming Polar Bear, hand cut using only one white sheet of Japanese Washi Paper.

“My new piece is the biggest challenge for me to date”, tells Nahoko Kojima. “Firstly the prohibitive size of the paper and also working with white paper instead of my usual black. Washi is also a very unpredictable surface to cut and maintain especially when hanging as a sculpture. The reason behind my choice of Paper is firstly the texture and also the way it changes properties. When the Polar Bear grows, the colour of its coat changes to an off white and this is how the paper I have selected will behave over time. Lastly the paper is extremely fragile when hung and I feel the same way about the existence of this beautiful animal in the modern day. There are still many stories hidden in the piece.”

Originally from Hyogo, and educated in Tokyo, Miss. Kojima is also the Co-Founder of the Creative Agency, Solo & Kojima, based in London. She has been residing in the UK for over 7 years now and is spearheading hand-made contemporary Japanese Papercut Art in Europe after the hugely successful Cloud Leopard which was unveiled at Saatchi Gallery  during the Craft Council’s Collect 2012 Show, which last year saw an attendance of over 10,000 people. At present it is on a European touring exhibition in partnership with Arte&Arte, Italy. Not only does the Cloud Leopard piece encourages the recognition of a Japanese Art form, but it also gives many people a chance to see a new forms of paper sculpture for the first time. The implications this has to Papercut Art in Europe are significant as it challenges established views and presents a very new concept of treating it as sculpture.

From 10 July to 25 August 2013
Nahoko Kojima: Byaku
Jerwood Makers Open 2013
171 Union Street, Bankside
London