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Different Japanese Arts : SUMINAGASHI What is Suminagashi? Suminagashi is the ancient Japanese technique of decorating paper with inks. It is also called paper modelling. Suminagashi means literally "ink-floating". Simply put, inks are floated on water and then blown to make different patterns. The ink is then picked up on a piece of paper by laying it atop the ink-covered water. It originated in China over 2,000 years ago. It was practiced in Japan as early as the 12th century. It is the oldest form of paper marbling. The Shinto priests allowed black ink drops to spread on a surface of water before they blotted them onto a fresh sheet of white rice paper for the purpose of divination. Later, members of the Japanese royal used a slightly different technique where in, they would decorate paper with sumi-ink and then immerse the paper in water. As the inks floated to the surface, beautiful patters would appear. Today the art has changed quite a bit. Artists use acrylic paints that flow and spread over a liquid water surface. Combining the knowledge of fluid mechanics with artistic talent, the artist controls the floating pigments through the viscosity and surface tension of the water to create images suggestive of mountain ranges, landscapes, clouds and animals before printing them on a sheet of paper. History In the 12th century, Suminagashi was made by producing delicate, swirled patterns by floating colors of ink on the surface of the water. This was called marbling. In the 15th century, Ebru or cloud art originated in Turkey and Persia. This was practiced by using paints made of oil or gouache. Here they added a thickened medium called 'size' to the water before marbling. This gave the marble more control over the movement and creation of patterns. After the paint was dropped into the water, a stylus or comb was used to create patterns. The art of marbling spread throughout Europe and by the 17th century, England, France, Germany, Holland, and Italy produced marbled papers. Since marblers were reluctant to share their techniques, very few people knew how to do it. Marbled guilds were introduced. English bookbinders imported marbled paper from Holland and Germany. Finally in 1853, an English master marbler, Charles Woolnough, revealed the secrets of paper marbling in his book The Art of Marbling. This was followed by books by other people. Gradually, hand binders were replaced by binding machines and the art of paper marbling became an obscure art.
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