I used so called MO’ paper that I came across by chance. This was watercolor paper I received from an old artist. She said, “It was almost 20 years old, and the edges of the paper had already faded in the sun and some parts had discolored.”  However, the moment I touched the paper with my fingers, I was captivated by its smooth and beautiful texture. I was sure that this paper would produce a wonderful expression. I worked up a sweat while printing in a studio where the temperature was approaching 35 degrees. The recent trend of high temperatures has reduced my creative motivation, but working with this paper was an exciting experience. I don't know how to deal with the summer heat that gets worse every year. To make matters worse, the Washi studio has gone out of business and it is difficult to obtain these papers today. I found out too late that the paper was produced in a workshop in Echizen-Washi, Fukui Prefecture. 

The watermark contains the letters 'MO'. It is named after 'Mohachi Oki'

In the 1920s, Japan was still recovering from the aftereffects of the First World War. Our government was facing economic pressure from other countries as it was expanding its military. "Was there a way to produce watercolor and printmaking paper domestically?" Oki Mohachi, a craftsman of Washi, created this paper after many hardships. If you think about it, the situation today is very similar to the situation 100 years ago when he produced this paper. Each country is moving from globalization to isolation. Will history repeat itself? That is what worries me.

This paper is not only beautiful, but also has very strong fibers and can withstand long periods of exposure to water. Therefore, it was widely used not only for watercolors and prints, but also for alternative photography. Moreover, this paper was inexpensive. Shigehachi's grandson recently passed away due to illness, and unfortunately the workshop has had to close. I would like to cherish these few remaining papers and print them.