April 4-6, 2024 This conference focused on Japanese traditional papermaking and the innovative use of handmade washi by contemporary mokuhanga artists. The province of Echizen is renowned for its production of Japanese washi and other traditional crafts.
Inheritance and Innovation: Mokuhanga Artists Explore Japanese Paper in Echizen, Japan, closed on April 6th and the extension trip to Nara on April 8. With 120 participants, the conference brought artists from Asia, Australia, North and South America, and Europe together for exhibitions, workshops, a banquet and visits to washi factories and local craftspeople.
From Tokyo the new Hokuriku Shinkansen JR train to Echizen-Takefu Station took just three hours. Hotels were located a short taxi ride away at the old local train station. Each morning buses took participants from hotels across town to the Art Hall Imadate and to the nearby Echizen Washi Village where papermaking workshops and exhibitions were held. Board member Mara Cozzolino made a helpful map indicating the locations of various events.
Exhibitions (April 4-8)
There were eight exhibitions at the conference. The International Juried Exhibition, with 140 artists, was at Art Hall Imadate (view prints online). On display in the front foyer was the large scale print The Hunters by late Ralph Kiggell, vice-chair of the 2021 Fourth International Mokuhanga Conference in Nara and online. The nearby Echizen Washi Village included a Mokuhanga Sisters Exhibition at the Udatsu Craft Center, and two solo exhibitions of work by Terry McKenna at the Paper & Culture Museum and by Katsutoshi Yuasa at the Echizen Washinosato Art Museum.
Furusato Gallery SHIKURA hosted the Board Members Exhibition (April Vollmer, Tuula Moilanen, Mike Lyon, Jacqueline Gribbin, Yoonmi Nam, and the MI-LAB Collection Exhibition. The Macau Print Association Exhibition exhibition was at the D-art Gallery walking distance from the hotels. (map and exhibition locations).
Prizes for prints in the juried exhibition were awarded to Daryl Howard (USA), Andy Farkas (USA), Mike Lyon (USA), Cameron Bailey (USA), Julie Strasheim (China), Charles Spitzack (USA), Neilton Clarke (Australia). Award Listing and Photos
Opening Banquet (Thursday, April 4, 6:00pm)
At 18:00 April 4, 2024 about 150 participants, staff, officials and instructors met at Ai Park Imadate in the Multi-purpose Hall for the IMC 2024 a buffet dinner. Generous amounts of local food was served by ladies from the City Eating Habits Improvement Promotion Committee dressed in pink. The banquet provided an opportunity for welcome speeches from government officials and organizer Yasuyuki Sato as well as introductions and reunions by instructors, craftspeople and artists.
Keynote and Presentations (Friday, April 5, 9:00-12:00)
Friday morning at the Imadate Art Center Hall, author Peter MacMillan gave an entertaining keynote address followed by Ms. Satomi Yoda who spoke about the History of Echizen Washi. Then Tuula Moilanen spoke about her papermaking program in Helsinki, Finland, and Nicholas Cladis, Artist/Papermaker spoke about his work at the Iowa Center for the book in Iowa, US.
Open Portfolio (April 6, 9:00-12:00)
Open Portfolio at Imadate Art Center was one of the most popular events, providing an opportunity for registered participants to share their woodcut prints in table-top presentations.
Demonstrations (April 6, 13:00-16:00)
Master carver Shoichi Kitamura and master printer Kyoko Hirai demonstrated professional practice at Art Hall Imadate. Biographies and additional information are now listed on the website.
The Product Showcase was an opportunity to examine closely full size sheets of paper from over fifteen members of the Echizen Washi Association, many attended in person to talk about their work. They created a Washi Sample Book for Mokuhanga with information and a pricelist for participants. In addition, Michi Hamono brought a selection of tools for sale and Ozu Washi a variety of papers from around Japan. A full list of the Echizen papermakers along with informational videos is available on the website.
The conference concluded with an evening enjoying the local culture and food in central Echizen, and viewing the weeping cherry tree in full blossom.
Nara Tour (April 7-8)
On April 7 about two thirds of the conference participants registered for an additional tour to Nara to visit the sumi makers. The 2020/2021 International Conference SUMI-FUSION was primarily online due to the pandemic, so this was an opportunity to visit in person. The tour included transportation from Echizen to Nara with one night in a hotel, with excursions to Kobaien and Boku-undo, in two groups with translators and opportunities to purchase ink and related supplies.
Alternative activities included a free bus tour of Fukui offered by the Echizen City Administration and an informal local walking tour organized by Jason Fujiwara.
Organizers
The International Mokuhanga Conference was conceived by Keiko Kadota in 2011 as a triennial conference about creative mokuhanga. Director Yasuyuki Sato was assisted by Project Coordinator Keiko Kobayashi in organizing this conference. Simultaneously the Mi-Lab residency moved from Yamanashi to Echizen. International Board members for the Fifth IMC are Mara Cozzolino (Italy), Jacqueline Gribbin (Australia), Mike Lyon (USA), Yoonmi Nam (USA), Florence Neal (USA), Katsu Yuasa (Japan), April Vollmer (USA). A full list of staff, advisory, and past board members is on the website.