Shikishi Art Project
An ongoing project by Art San Gallery exploring the artistic potential of traditional Japanese shikishi boards through international collaboration and contemporary techniques.
An ongoing research and practice initiative
The Shikishi Art Project is an ongoing initiative by Art San Gallery that invites artists to work with the Japanese shikishi as a contemporary artistic support.
Historically associated with calligraphy, ink painting, and writing, the shikishi is here approached not as a fixed or nostalgic object, but as a material, formal, and conceptual space open to experimentation. The project brings together artists from different backgrounds and practices, encouraging them to engage with the shikishi through drawing, painting, sculpture, and mixed media.
Rather than proposing a single definition or aesthetic, the project documents how artists today respond to the shikishi’s material qualities, format, borders, and cultural charge.
Understanding the shikishi
Before entering contemporary practice, the project establishes a shared understanding of what the shikishi is—linguistically, historically, materially, and visually.
These pages form the theoretical foundation of the project:
→ See Meaning of Shikishi: This page explores the linguistic and philological background of the word shikishi. While often translated as “colored paper,” the term refers to something far more specific and culturally significant. Here, we clarify the distinction and explain why this mistranslation persists.
→ See Shikishi Board: In this page, we take a closer look at the physical characteristics of a shikishi: its materials, structure, format, and traditional uses. From layered washi paper to gold-trimmed edges, this page answers the question: what exactly is a shikishi?
→ See Shikishi Format & Aesthetic: This page explores the origins of the shikishi format, from its roots in Heian-period shikishigata to the standardized boards used today. It highlights how changing materials and evolving aesthetics shaped a format that continues to influence artistic expression.
Artists & practices
The Shikishi Art Project is grounded in real artistic practices. Artists are invited to engage with the shikishi not as a decorative format, but as a working support—testing its limits, resistances, and possibilities through their own medium.
→ See Artists & Practices
Research & texts
Beyond finished works, the project places strong emphasis on process, experimentation, and reflection.
Interviews, essays, and critical texts document how artists approach the shikishi, how their techniques evolve, and how the support influences gesture, time, and composition.
→ See Research & Texts
An open and evolving project
The Shikishi Art Project is conceived as an open framework. New artists, new approaches, and new questions are added progressively.
Rather than fixing what the shikishi should be today, the project seeks to document what artists actually do with it, and how this traditional support continues to generate contemporary forms of attention and meaning.
FAQ
→ Understanding Shikishi and the Shikishi Art Project: What Is a Shikishi? Why Is Shikishi Translated as "Colored Paper" in English? What Does “Shikishi” Mean at Art San Gallery? What Is the Shikishi Art Project? What Makes a Shikishi Unique as an Art Medium? How Are Shikishi Traditionally Made? Can I Ask More Questions About Shikishi?