Ayumi Shibata

Today is Tuesday, June 16th

Rag & Bone Bindery is open for business

(read our post from Wednesday, March 25th for more information about how we're able to remain open for business)

Hello, everyone! Today we are inspired by the intricate paper worlds of artist Ayumi Shibata. Based in Japan, Shibata uses traditional Japanese methods of paper cutting to create miniature urban settings small enough to fit in glass bottles and large scale forested installations out of dozens of layers of delicate white paper. Shibata never drafts the outline of each sheet in pencil before cutting, as the paper is too fragile to withstand erasing. This paper is an essential piece of Shibata’s work, which is rooted in the many meanings of the Japanese word “Kami,” which means “‘god’, ‘divinity’, or ‘spirit’; but it also means ‘paper’”. “In the religion of Shinto,” writes Shibata in her artist statement, “white paper is considered as a sacred material”. Kami, in the sense of divinity or spirit, dwell within paper, in addition to moving “freely beyond time, universe and places, appearing during events, as well as in our houses and our bodies”. Through the medium of Kami (paper) and by her understanding of Kami (divinity), Shibata creates work that deals with “the delicate relationship we as humans have with the environment,” and hopes to “create a discussion about how we relate and care about the world we were given”.

You can see more work by Ayumi Shibata on her website,https://www.ayumishibata.com/works, as well as on Instagram, @ayumishibatart.

We're so grateful to be able to continue to make books and to help you be creative at home. Please remain safe and take care of friends and family. Contact us anytime if you have questions. Use our contact page to send a direct message, or call us at 401 728 0762. We're usually in the Bindery by 9:00 and leave around 4:00 (EST). Cheers! - Jason