News from the Rainbow

The title, “Message from the Rainbow,” conveys the message that “even when your heart is in darkness, if you strive diligently at something every day, a bright ‘message’—like a rainbow—will float down gently, like a feather, as good news.” With this in mind, I created a piece with a design similar to the photograph.
　Furthermore, I used washi paper throughout the entire piece and, in keeping with my artistic intent, did not apply any new coloring to the paper itself. Specifically, for the feather sections, I employed various washi papers and techniques to bring out new colors and vibrancy while preserving the original hues of the paper.
　The black sections of the piece are created by applying an ultra-thin layer of black washi (Ten-gu-cho paper) to silver Yuzen washi without a single wrinkle; as a result, when the frame is tilted slightly, the silver base shimmers and glints faintly.
　I adjusted the design, size, and angle of the feathers numerous times. Additionally, to give the piece a sense of floating and an inorganic quality, I arranged various types of white washi paper—differing in thickness and shape—in a dynamic pattern along the bottom. This is a one-of-a-kind, original work.