When frontlit, water droplets applied in the making of the upper layer accentuate the rugged fibrosity of the added thread. And when backlit, the designs become shadows, their straight lines and waves intersecting to accentuate the sense of depth.
From the early days of washi making, a method known as sukashi was used to create patterns like waterfalls. When backlit, a blue tone in the underlayers comes forth to suggest the spray and flow of a waterfall.
We place a layer of silver leaf between a thin layer of white washi and another thick layer forming the base. This renders the silver all the more subtly, subduing its reflectivity while retaining its glint between the fine grains of the fiber. When backlit, the shadow play is something truly stunning.
The layered construction of washi means that exposure to sunlight, or to varying lighting systems and intensities, draws out its full range. Recent developments in lighting technology and automated timer systems now make it possible to adjust the atmospheric mood or presence of our washi. In our Kyoto showroom, visitors can experience simulations of how washi changes its expression according to the lighting.(Reservations required.)
