Shortly after my arrival in Japan to study papermaking and printmaking at Kyoto Seika University, my first encounter with Japanese paper, although not washi, happened before the classes had even started, in one of the campus restrooms. My first thought after touching the delicate toilet paper was, “hello beautiful,” but in my native language. This became the title of this small project.
I borrowed one of the rolls, unrolled it, and, with the help of fellow local students, silkscreen-printed a quick drawing onto each of the perforated sections of paper. I then rolled it back up and returned it to the restroom where I had found it, to be enjoyed, or rather used as intended.