Karen Watanabe
Contemporary Paper Art and Japanese Kirigami
Born into an artistic family, Karen Watanabe was introduced to the delicate art of printmaking by her father, Mikio Watanabé, a renowned Japanese printmaker. This early initiation sparked a lifelong passion for creation, leading her to explore various artistic fields such as graphic design, textiles, and decorative arts. Yet, she always returns to the tactile, poetic world of paper – a medium through which she captures the beauty of simplicity and the essence of her travels.
Paper as a Living Material
Summers spent in Japan shaped her artistic sensibility, as she discovered countless ways to work with paper. Her creative process combines drawing, printmaking, cutting, folding, inking, and embroidery, each technique becoming a visual language. Selecting the perfect paper – its texture, weight, and ability to reflect light – is an essential step in her artistic journey.
For over ten years as part of an artists’ collective in Paris, Karen developed her unique vision of paper as a sculptural medium rather than a mere surface for printmaking. A period in Montreal, Canada further enriched her practice, deepening her appreciation for local craftsmanship and the use of high-quality materials.
Kirigami – Stories Told in Fibers
Among all techniques, Japanese kirigami holds a special place in her work. Through intricate cut-outs and the play between solid and void, Karen creates delicate, dreamlike narratives. Her pieces reflect a dialogue between cultures, shaped by her travels, encounters, and a fascination with the subtle beauty of everyday life.
An Invitation to Slow Looking
In each creation, Karen Watanabe invites viewers to slow down, to feel the grain of the paper, and to enter a world where form, light, and texture tell quiet stories. Drawing on her father’s teachings and her own artistic explorations, she has forged a distinctive style – a meeting point between Japanese tradition and contemporary expression, where paper becomes a poetic universe in itself.
