The Chinese characters “field” and “person” are drawn in sumi ink on a white washi background, depicting a person working in a field.
Length 6.5 cm
Width 5.2 cm
Height 3 cm
©️Kunihiro Fukumori
©Hatano Wataru
©ern
©Hatano Wataru
Wataru Hatano
- Papermaker
- Ayabe, Japan
- Master Artisan
Contact
Japanese, English
Hours:
By appointment only
By appointment only
Phone:
+81 8080113062
+81 8080113062
©️Kunihiro Fukumori
Layered textures of time
- • Kurotani washi (Japanese paper) has 800 years of history
- • Wataru is striving for the future of washi
- • He uses washi in innovative ways
Wataru Hatano’s work reintroduces washi into the modern life-space by adapting the traditional material kozo for everyday use. While studying oil painting, he used washi as his canvas, which led to a fascination for this paper. As a result, Wataru started to apprentice with the Kurotani Washi Cooperative in the Kurotani region of Kyoto. After 20 years in washi production, Wataru opened his own atelier to create washi products that are functional, with a timeless sense of warmth. Combining artisanal knowledge and a sensitive minimalist approach, he also puts the strong traditional paper to use as a construction material for interior design and layered paintings. These have intricate textures that transform the surrounding space into a meditative environment.
Read the full interviewWorks
Photo: ©Hatano Wataru
Person in the Field
Photo: ©Hatano Wataru
View from the Window
The soft muted greys and blacks of this painting represent a mountain scene from a memory, as if seen through a window.
Length 115 cm
Width 91 cm
Height 5 cm
Photo: ©Hatano Wataru
The Accumulation of Time
The organic texture of layered washi and the singular dark colour of this piece create depth and give a meditative quality to the painting that explores beauty.
Length 160 cm
Width 120 cm
Height 5 cm
Photo: ©Hatano Wataru
The Mountain
This hanging scroll is a calligraphy piece of the Chinese character “mountain” in sumi ink on muted white washi paper, depicting a mountain seen in the distance.
Height 105 cm
Width 50 cm
Photo: ©Hatano Wataru
The Sea
A section of layered washi in tones of grey resembles a calm sea on the white rectangle background that is framed by the muted black of the hanging scroll.
Height 105 cm
Width 50 cm
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