Timeless Patterns | 'Ripples of Physis' Screening & Talk

 

*To watch the video in full screen, please click play and then the YouTube icon on the lower right-hand corner.

Step into a world where nature and humanity beautifully converge through the art of Kyo Karakami Karacho, Japan’s last remaining producer of hand-printed karakami decorative paper.

The evening begins with a screening of the new documentary “Ripples of Physis,” directed by Ayako Mogi. Through lush cinematography and captivating music, this documentary journeys the globe to delve into the intricate patterns of karakami, a tradition that has been preserved for over 400 years through the work of one producer in Kyoto. These designs act as a gateway connecting nature and human experience, linking ancient Japan with the contemporary world through a universal language that transcends time and culture.

Following the film, join an in-depth conversation with Sanae Kawai, the film’s producer. She will share the journey of making the film, her insights on the cultural and historical significance of Kyo Karakami Karacho, and her thoughts on the crucial role of preserving traditional crafts in modern society.

Don’t miss this chance to experience the eternal beauty of Kyo Karakami Karacho and discover how these patterns bridge the natural and human worlds through the lens of an unforgettable documentary. (Watch trailer here.)

Program

*Subject to change

• 6:30 PM | Doors Open
• 7:00 PM | Remarks
• 7:05 PM | Screening
• 8:30 PM | Q&A with Ms. Sanae Kawai

About the Documentary Film “Ripples of Physis” (2023)

Kyo Karakami Karacho is a producer of hand-printed karakami decorative papers, the only one of its kind remaining in Japan, with a history stretching back over 400 years to the Edo Period (1603-1868). The patterns of their papers have always been closely connected to people’s everyday lives. The world of their patterns, simple and thus all the more profound, is linked to ancient layers of memory common to all humankind. As explored in this documentary, infinitely repeatable patterns form a universal network of thought, connecting the ancient with the contemporary and Japan with the rest of the world. (85 minutes)
Official Website (in Japanese): https://physis-movie.com/
Note: Film contains Japanese dialogue with English subtitles.

About the Speaker

Sanae Kawai, CEO of SASSO CO., LTD. and Producer of “Ripples of Physis”
Sanae Kawai is a product and interior designer and film producer. She graduated from Musashino Art University Junior College of Art and Design, where she studied Crafts Design. Between 1986 and 1990, she worked at Studio Michele De Lucchi in Milan, Italy. After returning to Japan in 1991, she founded STUDIO SANAE KAWAI in Kyoto, focusing on product, store, and residential design. ... Read more.

She has been working in Kobe since 1994. In 2019, she established SASSO Co., Ltd., a video production company that plans, produces, and distributes video and digital content, as well as handles publication and seminar planning. Currently, she is producing a documentary film on the theme of “patterns and ornaments”. She produced the documentary film "Ripples of Physis”, which explores patterns and ornaments from ancient times to the modern day across various countries.

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