Congratulations to Artist, Printmaker and Illustration Degree Creative Technician Kathryn Bell who is showing as part of The 2021 5th Edition of Awagami International Mini Print Festival in Japan! The purpose of this exhibition, “is to introduce ‘washi’ ; Japan’s traditional handmade paper (and cultural treasure) to international printmakers.”

We spoke to Kathryn to find out more about this exciting exhibition and her submission:

Tell us about the 2021 Awagami International Mini Print Exhibition (AIMPE) you are featured in!

This year marks the 5th year of AIMPE which is held in Japan. The purpose of this exhibition is to introduce ‘washi’ paper, Japan’s traditional handmade paper (and cultural treasure), to international printmakers. The exhibition provides an opportunity for artists to exhibit their prints and to promote expressionistic fine art printmaking.

How did you find out about/submit for the exhibition?

I’m part of a group of printmakers with whom I exhibit and sell work.  We keep each other informed of any opportunities that we notice, and this particular one was advertised as an open call in a print maker journal called ‘Pressing Matters’.

Tell us about the print you submitted?

The print is from a drawing of sea grasses that I made on the East coast of Scotland and includes an image of fabric crochet that I often like to include in my prints.

It is a three-layer screen print on an Awagami paper called Kinwashi.

Kinwashi is a lovely textured paper which captures the wildness of the grasses on the beach in my print.  It’s thinner than the papers I would usually screen print onto, however, I feel it allows light through the paper showing the colours.

How does it feel knowing that your work is reaching an international audience?

I feel extremely privileged to have my work in the Awagami Print Exhibition in Japan.  The location of the exhibition resonates with me as I plan to visit there to study under the expert tuition of Japanese print masters in the region of Mount Fuji.

Tell us about any projects you are working on 

I’m currently preparing work to enter into the Cascade International Print Exchange which exhibits in Oregon State University, USA.  This is something that I encourage our students at The Northern School of Art to enter every year.

More information and photos of the exhibition can be seen on their Instagram: @awagami_factory and their website: miniprint.awagami.jp