Guest Curator and Organizer for Ise Katagami Exhibition and Workshops
Updated: Oct 25, 2025
For "Stenciled Elegance: Ise Katagami and the Art of Textile Design" exhibition at Asia Society Texas Center, I took an important and meaningful role as a guest curator and event organizer.
Details of the Exhibition and Event (*Please note: this exhibition and event has already taken place.)
What is Ise Katagami(伊勢型紙)?
Before I share the details of my work, let me briefly introduce Ise Katagami.
Ise Katagami is a traditional Japanese craft of making handmade paper stencils, used to create intricate patterns on kimono fabrics or leather goods such as Inden (印伝). This craft originated over 1000 years ago in the Shiroko (白子) and Terako (寺子) districts of Suzuka City, located in Mie Prefecture.
What makes Ise Katagami unique is the paper itself—although it’s thin and flexible, it becomes strong and durable through a special treatment process. This allows the stencil to be reused multiple times and with different colors, making it both practical and beautiful.
More details about Ise Katagami will be shared in the upcoming video, so please stay tuned!
In Japan, Ise Katagami has traditionally been seen simply as a tool for creating patterns on items, rather than as an art form in itself. Because of this, it has rarely been displayed in museums, and even today, it’s relatively difficult to find detailed articles or resources about it—even in Japanese.
Through my research, I spent countless hours exploring its history, tradition, and the incredible craftsmanship behind it.
Interestingly, when we look at the history of Japonism and the Western perspective, Ise Katagami has often been appreciated as art in its own right. The stencils have been exhibited in museums and even inspired various forms of art in the past.
Please take a moment to read this article as well: >>URL (I recommend using Google Translate to view it in English.)
For this project, I was involved in the art selection process, writing the exhibition text, and coordinating the event in collaboration with local artisans from Japan.
We were thrilled to see so many local visitors take part in the events. It was a meaningful opportunity for them to closely observe and experience the art firsthand, while gaining a deeper understanding of Japanese culture.
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