Soft silence, 2024. Site-specific installation. Washi paper, LED – Photo credit: 9+1
Chapel FAR
Soft Silence is a site-specific installation that focuses on the integration of Japanese traditional crafts and technology, specifically exploring the craft of washi paper to create a craft that can transition smoothly with time. In this project, the raw liquid of washi is dripped using a plotter, transforming it into drops that allow for the creation of washi paper in any desired shape and thickness from digital data. By incorporating technology into the 1,300-year-old Japanese traditional craft of washi, the project generates new textures of washi paper.
One of the raw materials for washi paper is kōzo, which has long fibres allowing for the creation of thinner and lighter paper than standard pulp. This product proposal maximizes the characteristics of washi paper, suggesting a product that sways with the wind or movement of people, forming an evolutive experience of lightness. Additionally, the unique texture created by the plotter's droplets accentuates the gentle reflective properties of washi paper. Moreover, washi paper is water-soluble, reusable, and low environmental impact.
Yuko Sakamoto
Yoichi Sakamoto
9+1 is a collective from Japan, composed of artists, designers and engineers who are pursuing cutting-edge expressions in their respective creative field. The aim is to give birth to new forms of products, crafts and artworks, getting inspiration from a wide range of subjects going from traditional Japanese craft to advanced technology.