Carving the Universe in Paper

In an era of increasing digitalisation, paper remains an essential part of daily life. The exhibition Micro and Macro Universe of Paper Art at the Ichihara Lakeside Museum in Chiba Prefecture pays tribute to this timeless material until January 13, 2025.

Showcasing three artists with distinct approaches to paper—origami, sculpture, and kirie (the art of paper cutting)—the exhibition offers a glimpse into creations that push the boundaries of this versatile medium.

A pioneer of ‘modular origami,’ which combines multiple folded elements into one cohesive piece, Tomoko Fuse is renowned for innovative techniques like infinite folding and spiral folding.

Among the works featured in the exhibition is ‘Mukumuku and Nejineji’, created using flat folding techniques to achieve a distinct aesthetic. The installation consists of Mukumuku—elegant white sculptures resembling creatures with gently twisted necks—and Nejineji, a floor arrangement of 300 folded blue and yellow modules made from three types of squares. Over time, the cones and spirals evoke the surrounding landscapes, reflecting the mountains and rivers near the museum in miniature form.

Through stacking hundreds or even thousands of hand-cut paper sheets, Noriko Ambe‘s art transcends into the realm of sculpture. For this exhibition, she collaborates with lighting designer Taira Ichikawa to present ‘White Night’, a new addition to her Geological Strata Series, which began in 1999.

Displayed on a table and illuminated by Ichikawa, the piece features an array of randomly layered three-dimensional strata made from Yupo paper. Resembling continents rendered in paper, the delicate yet dynamic landscapes are enhanced by lighting that mimics the movement of the sun. Visitors are drawn into an immersive experience, as though observing Earth—or perhaps the Moon—where the many perforations in the paper resemble craters.

Inspired by the stained glass windows of a New York church, Ayumi Shibata began her exploration of kirie. For this exhibition, she presents ‘Poem of Life’, a monumental installation suspended in a nine-metre-high space.

Delicate paper cuts, shaped as globes rather than circles, are connected by threads and illuminated like chandeliers, creating the impression of a burst of vital energy. Shibata also showcases ‘Amano Iwato-biraki’ and ‘Hagoromo’, two equally striking five-metre-wide works that pair intricate kirie craftsmanship with a dreamlike atmosphere.

The Micro and Macro Universe of Paper Art exhibition serves as a reminder that, in ancient Japan, paper was regarded as a yorishiro—an object where deities could dwell and to which people could entrust their prayers. This connection between the human and the divine, or the micro and the macro, is particularly evident in the works on display at the Ichihara Lakeside Museum, which celebrate the richness and versatility of this timeless material.

Micro and Macro Universe of Paper Art, an exhibition running until January 13, 2025, at the Ichihara Lakeside Museum.