Wataru Hatano

Trained as a washi craftsman and artist, Wataru Hatano’s work reintroduces washi, devoted towards keeping the traditional art alive. While studying Art & Design at Tama Art University in Tokyo, Wataru used washi as his canvas, which led to a fascination for the material. As a result, Wataru started to apprentice with the Kurotani Washi Cooperative and after 20 years in washi production, Wataru opened his own atelier. Combining artisanal knowledge and a sensitive minimalist approach, he puts the strong traditional paper to use as a construction material in his layered paintings. Using soil, pigments, acrylic & oil Wataru’s paintings have intricate textures that transform the surrounding space into a meditative environment.