Washi, Origami

“OPEN, IT STRETCHES; CLOSED, IT ROLLS UP. IT CAN BE CONTRACTED OR EXPANDED; HIDDEN AWAY OR DISPLAYED.” – Fu Xian (Jin Dynasty), approximately 150 years after invention of paper. My connection to Japan and its culture goes back before I can even remember. My parents hosted a Japanese student when I was just a baby. I don’t remember Masa, but his gifts such as the storybook of Momotaro, the Peach Boy, and our happi jackets, are deep indelible memories. At the end of 2019, just pre-COVID, I was in Japan for concerts with a range of astounding musicians including Walter Lang (who has sadly since passed away), Shinya Fukumori, Masaki Kai, Motohiko Ichino, Sumire Kuribayashi and Akihiro Nishiguchi. The beginnings of the idea for Washi – Japanese paper (和紙) made by hand in a traditional manner – came while shopping in a department store in Osaka, finding these concertina style books that I used to create individual graphic scores or art books. Utilising handmade papers and improvising my own origami folds, each book is unique, inviting the musicians to consider the paper’s textures, shapes, lines, patterns, colours and layers as the elements to inspire musical ideas. Does this mark an end, or is it just a point on a circle? We’ll see Adam Simmons

Origami Paper 300 Sheets Japanese Washi Patterns 4 (10 Cm): Tuttle Origami Paper: High-Quality Origami Sheets Printed with 12 Different Designs

Dyed Washi Origami Japanese quality Craft Paper 18 colors 染和紙

Washi Origami Christmas Tree – Japan Stationery

Origami Paper Handmade Silkscreen Washi Patterns - 120 mm - 12 sheets

Morisa Rakusui Tosa Washi Paper Origami (12 Sheets), MUSUBI KILN

Washi Chiyogami Origami Lucky Star Paper Strips Assorted Design Pack of 50 Strips

Create exquisite paper decorations Package contains eight 5- 7/8x5-7/8 inch origami sheets Non-toxic paper Made in Japan

Aitoh Yuzen Washi Origami Paper, Red, 8-Pack

Washi Origami Paper, 5 Japanese Colors 6 100 Sheets – Paper Jade

Yasutomo® Fold Ems Yuzen Washi Origami Paper - 12 Sheets, 5 x 5 in - Fred Meyer

Toyo Washi Chiyogami Origami Paper Japanese Doll Kimono Set 7x7 New

14X14cm Japanese Origami Paper Washi Paper Chiyogami Paper Yuzen paper for DIY gift crafts scrapbook -200pcs/

Furukawa Washi Origami Paper is a lovely choice for folding and papercraft. This generous stack of 100 squares in soft colors invites you to fold lots

Washi Origami Paper, 90 mm