Shikishi Art Project

Launched by Art San Gallery, the Shikishi Art Project invites artists from Japan and abroad to explore the artistic potential of shikishi — traditional Japanese boards made of layers of paper, and framed with gold edges. Long associated with poetry, calligraphy, and ink painting, shikishi embody a balance of elegance and refinement.

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At the heart of the project is a commitment to artistic freedom. Artists are invited to engage with shikishi without imposed themes or stylistic limitations — free to explore, invent, and reinterpret the format according to their own practices and perspectives. This open approach encourages experimentation and diversity, allowing each work to emerge from the artist’s own visual and material language.

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A growing number of artists are already contributing to the project, using mediums such as ink, watercolour, pastel, acrylic, oil paint, charcoal, and mixed media. The absorbent paper allows for smooth blending and rich pigment saturation, while the firm backing supports techniques such as impasto, layering, and relief work. All mediums are welcome — the project encourages artists to test the full range of their tools and processes to reinvent the shikishi as a space for contemporary artistic expression.

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The Shikishi Art Project is an open-ended initiative with no fixed timeframe. Submissions, selections, and exhibitions occur on a rolling basis, allowing continuous artistic engagement. Artworks will be exhibited online and curated for in-person exhibitions. Collectors are invited to follow the project as it evolves, discover new works as they emerge, and support participating artists by acquiring unique pieces that reflect this shared dialogue between tradition and innovation — and the sense that something new is unfolding.