Edo Hyogu [ Paper Mountings ]

Ishii Hiroyoshi

Hyougu has many kinds of works such as scrolls, “Makimono (Rolled-up Scroll)” and “Kakejiku (Hanging Scrolls)”, “Byoubu (Folding Screens)”, “Wagaku (Japanese Picture Frames)”, “Fusuma (Sliding Doors)”
Each piece of work uses materials such as Japanese paper, fabrics like Orimono (Woven Fabric) and Tanmono (Fabric Roll for Kimono), water and glue which are simple but needs advanced skills when using with a brush to spread the water or glue on the paper by hand.
In the recent years, flooring and carpeting have become popular due to the change of life-style, the Japanese-style rooms that use tatami mat has been becoming more rare. However, Ishii is still making hanging scrolls which are decorated in the Tokonoma (Alcove), Frames, and also items with different forms that can adapt to different uses, even if the place is not a Japanese-style room.

“Even if you say Fusuma to young people today, they wouldn’t know what that means” said Ishii. We are preparing art work to display at events for introducing hanging scrolls and folding screens. For example, since Fusuma (Sliding Doors) are made by laminating papers for many layers, it seems to do a filter’s duty which is absorbing the moisture in the air and the throwing it out. A mount made by traditional methods has been the hidden beauty that can’t be seen with normal eyes.

Ishii is also involved in the restoration of Japan’s historical and cultural properties. He plays an important role when doing restorations for hanging scrolls, folding screens and mounts, such as pictures on partitions, which are stored and displayed in public buildings, temples and private houses and more.