On February 8 2019 I attended the opening of the exhibition 'Washi no fushigi. The mystery of paper' in Kraków. I wanted to be present, because the three Krakówian artists - Ewa Rosiek-Buszko, Marta Bożyk and Małgorzata Malwina Niespodziewana - had all participated in the Mino Washi Artist in Residence. Most of you already know that I was so fortunate to having been a participant of the same program in 2013 (Mino AiR Blog).
On top of that, my friends from Mino AiR would come to Kraków to hold the opening speech. A trip to Poland to meet my Japanese friends, and meeting the three Krakówian artists for the first time was an easy choice to be made. The artworks surpassed my expectations. Ewa Rosiek-Buszko, Marta Bożyk and Małgorzata Malwina Niespodziewana have used the Mino washi paper all in a very unique and intrinsic way. Their love for Mino washi paper is apparent in how they use the amazing qualities of the paper which is clearly part of their works. 

The opening was well-visited, it was really overwhelming! Later that evening visitors could make their own Mino washi paper lantern during a workshop. Niespodziewana's work really appealed to me, because she also uses pigments on paper and I find the playfulness in her work very endearing. I had the chance to talk with her and she introduced me to Ewa Rosiek-Buszko. My new friend Estera Mrówka who studies at the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts, introduced me to Marta Boży. It was such a pleasure to meet with all three artists.
​But this wasn't the end of the story: I saw a young man who seemed familiar but knew for sure that we had never spoken before. After half an hour I remembered and hesitatingly asked him if he perhaps had send me an e-mail in 2018 to ask information about this artist in residence. He was quick to remember and told me it was in fact about the Itsukaichi Artist in Residence in Japan that he had asked information about. His name is Adam Soroczyński. And, he told me had been selected for that residency and went there the Autumn of 2018. What a wonderful story! 

More information about the exhibition: 
http://manggha.pl/en/exhibition/washi-no-fushigi-the-mystery-of-paper

Period: Until March 31 2019
Where: Manggha Museum, ul. M. Konopnickiej 26, 30-302 Kraków

Ludmilla Reisinger, journalism student at the Hanze University, wrote an article about the opening 'Everyday Japan'. Read the article here: Hanze Journalism - Manga workshop and Japanese vending machines


Thank you everyone for the fantastic opening of my exhibition "Everyday Japan" at the Oude RKZ.  My compliments to Ingrid, who made a delicious Japanese meal and served Japanese snacks until midnight!  We enjoyed your manga workshop a lot Marjolein de Jong, children as well as adults.🍀.
I want to thank Piyojo, Møzaika and Loekie, and our last-minute guests Gijs Deddens and Susan Kooi for the music. It was an honour to have you! Philo Ouweleen, thank you for warmly welcoming everyone. I wonder how many of our guests will start a vending machine business in Japan !
Special thanks to everyone who helped in the kitchen and behind the bar. Without you we couldn't have done this!

And all of you who visited, thank you very much! It was lovely to meet new people and see friends and acquaintances.😊🙏

Dutch below

I would like to invite you to the opening of the exhibition 'Everyday Japan'. For the second time I will show the series 'Vending machines in Japan', which was shown at the Martini Hospital in Groningen at the beginning of this year. I will also be showing earlier work depicting the daily life of Japan. 

The exhibition will be festively opened by Japanologist Philo Ouweleen. At 20:30 hours you can participate in the workshop 'Manga drawing' by Marjolein de Jong. This workshop is suitable for all ages. After that there will be a live performance by Piyojo (Rik Möhlmann) and Dj Mozaika (Berlin) will take you into a world full of exotic sounds. During the opening Japanese snacks will be served.

Admission: Free
When: Friday 30 October
Time: 20:30 hours
Where: Emmastraat 15 Groningen
(Dagcafé/ Restaurant in the Oude RKZ)

Exhibition period
30 November to 24 January 2019

For more information I would like to refer you to the following link: www.facebook.com/events/205828183649444/

I look forward to seeing you at the opening!

NB: There is no ATM.

==
Bij deze wil ik u van harte uitnodigen voor de opening van de expositie 'Everyday Japan'. Ik zal voor de tweede keer de serie 'Verkoopautomaten in Japan' tonen, die begin dit jaar te zien was in het Martini Ziekenhuis in Groningen. Daarnaast zal ik ook eerder werk tonen waarop het dagelijks leven van Japan is afgebeeld. 

De expositie wordt feestelijk geopend door Japanologist Philo Ouweleen (Amsterdam). Om 20:30 uur kunt u deelnemen aan de workshop 'Manga tekenen' van Marjolein de Jong. Deze workshop is geschikt voor alle leeftijden. Daarna is er een live optreden van Piyojo (Rik Möhlmann) en neemt Dj Mozaika (Berlijn) u mee in een wereld vol exotische geluiden. Tijdens de opening worden er Japanse snacks geserveerd.

Toegang: Gratis
Wanneer: Vrijdag 30 oktober
Tijd: 20:30 uur
Waar: Emmastraat 15 Groningen
(Dagcafé/ Restaurant in het Oude RKZ)

Tentoonstellingsperiode
30 november tot 24 januari 2019

Voor meer informatie verwijs ik u graag naar de volgende link: https://www.facebook.com/events/205828183649444/

Graag tot ziens bij de opening!

NB: Er is geen pinautomaat

【Aki・Akari (autumn colors light) – part2】
This month, find an exhibition by Mino Art Info which focuses on “Akari art” or sculpted lamps made from Mino Washi paper. It will showcase the creative works of art by participants to the past “Paper Art Village Project in Mino”. Let’s take a pause and feel the autumn the warm and soft glow of light through the Mino Washi paper gives us.
Also discover “Akari no machinami ~Mino~” as well. The past prize-winning and other remarkable works from “Mino Washi Akari Art Contest & Exhibition” are now on display around the Streets of the old ‘Udatsu’ area of town. 
We will also conduct a workshop, “Washi light object”.
Don’t miss any of these!
Dates: 3 & 4 November 
Time: 10:00 – 16:00
Place: The Studio Yoshida (next to the former Imai Residence)
Admission: Free 
Workshop: Free (Washi light object)
For Information: Mino Cultural Hall 0575-35-0522
【秋・あかり(autumn colors light)part.2】
美濃・紙の芸術村参加アーティストのあかりアートの作品展です。美濃和紙を通して見る優しくやわらかい光は、秋を感じさせます。
あかりの町並～美濃～も開催中。
無料ワークショップは「和紙のあかり」作り。
とことん和紙とあかりにこだわった作品展に是非お越しください。
日時 11月3日〜4日 10:00〜16:00
場所 吉田工房(旧今井家住宅となり)
入場 無料
☆無料ワークショップは「和紙のあかり」☆
お問い合わせは美濃市文化会館(0575-35-0522)まで

Dear readers,

In 2013 I was 'Artist in Residence' in the beautiful village of Mino in Japan. This AiR came to a halt in 2016, but still offers assistance to self-funded artists.
This year a special exhibition showcases handmade paper Etegami works by past participants of the Mino Artist in Residence. My picture letter will be among more than 50 other Etegami art works.
 
Etegami (e means picture and tegami means letter/ message) consists of a simple drawing accompanied by a few words on a postcards to be mailed to one’s friends.  

If you are in Japan, try to take a detour and visit Mino, known for its quality handmade paper and Edo-period streets with 'udatsu' roofs. And please feel welcome to enjoy the many beautiful Etegami at studio Yoshida

Dates: Wed. 21 March – Sun. 25 March
Time: 10:00 – 16:00
Place: Studio Yoshida (next to former Imai Residence)

Dear readers,

I am so thankful for the wonderful opportunity of showing my latest series 'Japanese vending machine' at the Martini Ziekenhuis in Groningen. If you are around or would like to visit my exhibition, please leave a message and I'd love to come and explain more about this series.  Otherwise, you can find my paintings at the 'orange corridor', route 0.8. 
​
✿​You have the chance to visit the exhibition until April 9th✿

For more information about this series, click on the following link.
​Flyer expositie Japanse verkoopautomaten 

I am also happy to announce that I have printed the images from this series on postcards which are for sale. If you are interested in purchasing them, you can leave a message here or write to yanapoppe@gmail.com

If you would like to know about my recent doings, I update my process quite regularly on  Instagram.

View of several paintings now on show

A total of 12 postcards. 

2017 started with a visit to the studio of the amazing artist Ichiro Kikuta in Okinawa. During this trip I photographed vending machines what became the subject of my paintings 'Japanese vending machine'. In Mino, famous for its traditional handmade paper, I had the opportunity to help craftsman and papermaker Senda Takanori with getting the fibers ready. My makura byoubu and lantern were part of the Paper New Year exhibition at Gallery Yoshida. During the exhibition I assisted in a workshop to make origami 'hashi oki', chopstick rests made from paper. 

The history of Mino Washi paper goes back 1300 years. It was admired for its beauty, strength and softness. During the Edo period Mino Washi became a luxury and was being used for sliding doors.
In 2014 Unesco placed the traditional craft of hand making paper from Mino, Misumi-cho and Ogawa on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In Mino this special paper is called "Hon-minoshi". 

The bark used for "Hon-Minoshi" comes from the finest Mullberry tree (Nasu Kozo). During the 5 days paper making workshop we learned about the process of making Mino Washi paper. The main activity was making large-sized papers. Other things we did were washing the bark in the water basin, putting the bark inside the boiling pot of water and soda, and taking out the dark and hard bits left inside the bark. The photos show some of the steps made during the process of making Mino Washi paper. I hope you enjoy the photos! View my previous post to see an article about me in the Chunichi Shimbun.

Nederlandse tekst
De geschiedenis van Mino Washi papier begon 1300 jaar geleden. Toen al werd het bewonderd om haar schoonheid, kracht en zachtheid. Tijdens de Edo-periode (1603- 1868) was Mino Washi een luxe product en werd het gebruikt voor schuifdeuren.
In 2014 plaatste Unesco de traditionele ambacht van het met de hand maken van papier uit Mino, Misumi-cho en Ogawa op de lijst van "Immaterieel Cultureel Erfgoed van de mensheid". In Mino wordt dit speciale papier "Hon-minoshi" genoemd.

De vezels van de beste Moerbeiboom 'Nasu Kozo' worden gebruikt voor het maken van "Hon-Minoshi". Tijdens de 5 dagen van de workshop leerden we over het proces van het maken van Mino Washi papier. Maar de meeste tijd besteedden we aan het maken van Mino Washi papier zelf. We gebruikten een grote 'suketa' dat door middel van draden aan bamboestokken hing. Al snel ervaarde ik waarom, omdat de mix van water met papier en aoi tororo erg zwaar was. Daarbij moest je gecontroleerde bewegingen met de 'suketa' maken, zodat het papier mooi en sterk wordt.    
Andere dingen die we deden was het wassen van de witte bast in het bassin, de bast in de kokende pot met alkaline doen- en er later weer uithalen, en de donkere en harde stukjes uit de bast halen. De foto's tonen een aantal van de stappen tijdens het proces van het maken van Mino Washi papier.
Een artikel over mijn deelname aan deze workshop is in de Chunichi Shimbun (krant) verschenen. 

This year I went to Mino for the second time to follow a 5- days paper making workshop at the Mino Washi Traditional Paper Museum. Our teacher Ichihara Toshiko-sensei, a professional Mino Washi papermaker, taught us the process of making Mino washi. We spent most of the time making large-sized washi. I was interviewed by the"Chunichi Shimbun" about why I follow this workshop and my admiration and use of Mino washi paper. The photo shows me taking out the dark and hard bits (chiritori) from the fibers.