From Pulp to Paper

For many Japanese people, washi is a symbol of their cultural identity. For paper artist, Chiaki Morita, it is a craft form she strives to evolve by using Japanese paper as her preferred artistic medium. She grows Kōzo trees in her garden and transforms the inner bark into thin fibers used to make thick pulp that ultimately becomes washi paper. Morita’s work ranges from naturally dyed indigo fiber wrapping paper to greeting cards and ethereal washi lace fans.