Bellevue, WA—Bellevue Arts Museum in Bellevue, WA is pleased to announce Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper, on view from February 2 through April 26, 2024.

Washi Transformed presents over thirty highly textured two-dimensional works, expressive sculptures, and dramatic installations that explore the astonishing potential of this traditional medium. In this exhibition, nine Japanese artists embrace the seemingly infinite possibilities of washi, underscoring the unique stature this ancient art form has earned in the realm of international contemporary art. The breathtaking creativity of these artistic visionaries deepens our understanding of how the past informs the present, and how it can build lasting cultural bridges out of something as seemingly simple and ephemeral as paper.

Washi Transformed features work by nine contemporary Japanese artists: Hina Aoyama, Eriko Horiki, Kyoko Ibe, Yoshio Ikezaki, Kakuko Ishii, Yuko Kimura, Yuko Nishimura, Takaaki Tanaka, and Ayomi Yoshida.

“These nine contemporary Japanese artists are revisiting their nation’s traditional material and elevating it into a medium for expressive and often spectacular works of art.” – Meher McArthur, Curator

A 96-page companion book published by International Arts & Artists and Scala Arts Publishers is also available.

About the Curator
Meher McArthur is the Art & Cultural Director of Japan House, Los Angeles, and a curator and historian of Japanese art. She curated the IA&A traveling exhibitions Folding Paper: The Infinite Possibilities of Origami (2012-2016) and Above the Fold: New Expressions in Contemporary Origami (2015 -2020) and co-curated Nature, Tradition and Innovation: Japanese Ceramics from the Gordon Brodfuehrer Collection (2016-2019). McArthur received an MA in Japanese Studies from Cambridge University; a postgraduate diploma in Asian Art from Sotheby’s School of Oriental Studies (SOAS), London University; and an MA in Art and Archaeology from SOAS, London University

Tour Schedule
Scheduled U.S. tour dates for Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper include: Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA (October 10, 2021 – January 2, 2022); Longmont Museum, Longmont, CO (January 28, 2022 – May 15, 2022); D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, MA (June 11, 2022 – September 4, 2022); Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach, FL (November 3, 2022 – April 2, 2023); Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, WA (February 2, 2024- April 26, 2024), Dayton Art Institute, Dayton, OH (June 24, 2023 – September 17, 2023); Mingei International Museum, San Diego, CA (October 13, 2023 – January 7, 2024); Las Cruces Museum of Art, Las Cruces, NM (May 24, 2024 – August 10, 2024); the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State University, State College, PA (September 11, 2024 – December 8, 2024); and the Richard E. Peeler Art Center at DePauw University (January 27, 2025 – April 27, 2025).

Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper was organized by Meher McArthur and is toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC

International Arts & Artists in Washington, DC, is a non-profit arts service organization dedicated to increasing cross-cultural understanding and exposure to the arts internationally, through exhibitions, programs and services to artists, arts institutions and the public. Visit www.artsandartists.org

IA&A is proud to collaborate for a fourth time with Meher McArthur, curator of successful IA&A traveling exhibitions Folding Paper: The Infinite Possibilities of Origami (2012-2016) and Above the Fold: New Expressions in Contemporary Origami Art (2015-2020); and co-curator of Nature, Tradition and Innovation: Japanese Ceramics from the Gordon Brodfuehrer Collection (2016-2019).

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Featured art: Takaaki Tanaka, Boat Island (detail), 2018, Kozo (mulberry fiber paper), flax, iron, Image courtesy of the artist, © Takaaki Tanaka. Kakuko Ishii,  Musubu R, 2012, Washi paper (Mizuhiki) and pigment, Image courtesy of the artist, © Kakuko Ishii. Kakuko Ishii, Japanese Paper Strings Musubu W1, 2007, Washi paper (Mizuhiki) and pigment, Image courtesy of the artist, © Kakuko Ishii.  Kyoko Ibe, Once Upon a Time #1, 2011, Washi (Japanese handmade paper), Image courtesy of the artist, © Kyoko Ibe.