Divisorias de Papel III_ Shadebox

PAPER PARTITION

WASHI AS SELECTED MATERIAL

Washi is a natural, simple, expressive paper made in Japan.
Long natural fibres are used to make this paper, like mulberry, rice, hemp, and straw.

Other fibres, like cotton, or bamboo can be added to change its appearance or to improve some of its characteristic.

It is traditionally handmade, but nowadays we can find industrially produced washi as well.
From the old times washi has been used for official documents, poetry, shouji and fusuma, lanterns, umbrellas, fans, crafts such as doll making and is used by artists for calligraphy, printmaking, traditional Japanese style painting and rapping.

TEXTURE, COLOR AND LIGHT

Washi has a rough texture, given by the use of natural fibres and because of the fabrication
process. Though rough when looking at it, its texture feels very soft to touch.

The long fibres used in washi make the paper to diffuse light in a particular way.
Different layers of paper can change the appearance of it. The thinner the paper the more transparent it becomes.

A sheet of washi can be made out of several other sheets, using water and natural glue.

The paper can become quite rigid and still keeps a nice texture and can diffuse light.

As light conditions change through the course of the day, so does quality of light generated by washi.

Depending on light conditions, the paper can reflect the light to make a room brighter, or reflect the silhouette of other furniture or objects behind it.

I could be set in front of a window instead of a curtain.

With the folds of the paper, lines and shadows give depth to the surface.

SHADEBOX, A PAPER WALL

SPATIALITY

It’s a wall, but is paper.
It separates but connects.
Perceptually it creates connectivity between spaces. Allows you to sense the presence of
something or somebody on the other side, though when you cannot see it.
Brings the surroundings into the atmosphere of the space.

FUNCTION
It is a paper wall.
A screen.
A lamp.
A piece of furniture.