Thank you very much for visiting our exhibition! 

Hiyoshiya, in collaboration with French designer Céline Wrigt, has held the special exhibition Dialogue of Light and Washi – EXHIBITION – WORKSHOP – CRAFTSMANSHIP at the France Pavillon of the Osaka-Kansai Expo.

With over 2,000 visitors in total, the event was a great success. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who attended.

Céline Wright × Hiyoshiya  "COCOON Light"

As Céline Wright’s official distributor in Japan, we had the pleasure of introducing her world of soft, natural light, created through organic materials and craftsmanship, to a wide audience.

At this exhibition, we unveiled the "COCOON Light", a Japan-exclusive pendant light co-created by Céline Wright and Hiyoshiya. Inspired by the shape of a cocoon, the light is made of delicately layered washi paper that creates a soft glow and a sense of depth in any space. It is a perfect choice not only for hotels and commercial spaces, but also as a stylish addition to home interiors.

Product details: * This product can only be used or shipped in Japan

COCOON Light S：https://shop.wagasa.com/ja/product/8077866107066

COCOON Light L：https://shop.wagasa.com/ja/product/8077865156794

About the Exhibition

WORKSHOP 

We held a workshop led by Céline Wright, where participants created lighting fixtures using washi paper. People of all ages, from young children to adults, experienced the process of layering and applying washi paper on the COCOON Light mold. This lively event offered a rare opportunity to create alongside the designer.

CRAFTSMANSHIP 

The fifth-generation head of Hiyoshiya demonstrated the making of a large traditional Kyoto-style umbrella over two meters in diameter. He demonstrated the process of shaping a nodate umbrella (a Japanese umbrella used for outdoor tea ceremonies) by stretching washi paper over the bamboo frame. Many visitors stopped to watch, expressing their amazement for the meticulous craftsmanship and the tools used. For many, it was the first time to handle a Japanese traditional umbrella, making it a unique opportunity to experience the skill of the artisan and the beauty of the wagasa (Japanese umbrella) up close.

EXHIBITION

The collaborative art piece Lotus Parasol by Céline Wright and Hiyoshiya was exhibited along with a collection of washi paper lighting fixtures.

The cocoon-shaped lights displayed at the front of the venue cast an enchanting light and were met with many compliments.

ART PERFORMANCE

A special art performance by Kyoto-based calligrapher Hiroshi Ueta and Céline Wright was also arranged.

Ink dripping from the COCOON Light suspended from the ceiling formed random lines and dots, while Ueta’s brush expressed the "brilliance of life". To complete the piece, a red thread, symbolic of the France Pavillon, was laid across the work, representing the connection between the two countries.

LIMITED EDITION STAMP and GIFT

Exclusive stamps designed specially for Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai were available, along with small gifts made from washi and bamboo ribs used in the COCOON Light. Many visitors enjoyed collecting the stamps and walking through the venue, gently swaying the washi in their hand.

About the Guest

Hiroshi Ueta

Hiroshi Ueta began studying calligraphy under his mother from an early age. After graduating from Shikoku University, he studied abroad in China. Based in Kyoto, he works as a calligrapher blending his own creative work with conceptual art, performance and design. He has exhibited his work not only in Japan but also in Australia, France and the United States, and has received numerous awards. In addition to presenting a collaborative series with Céline Wright at Paris Design Week 2023, he has worked together with her on collaborations for Nuit Blanche Kyoto and Villa Kujoyama, Kyoto.

https://www.uetahiroshi.com/ 

About the Organizers

 Céline Wright

Céline Wright has been creating washi paper lighting in her studio in Montreuil, France, for over 30 years. Her delicate and poetic works value the translucency of washi paper and draw inspiration from nature. Committed to sustainability, she pursues craftsmanship using natural materials with environmental awareness. Having spent part of her childhood in Japan, she stayed in Villa Kujoyama in Kyoto in 2022. She continues to explore new possibilities of washi paper, expanding her expression to large-scale installations and land art.

https://www.celinewright.com/gb/ 

 Kyo-Wagasa Hiyoshiya

Founded in the Edo period, Hiyoshiya is the only remaining Kyoto-style wagasa (traditional Japanese umbrella) workshop. Using traditional techniques cultivated over five generations, the company continues to produce and repair a variety of traditional Japanese umbrellas. In 2004, Kotaro Nishibori became the fifth-generation head of the company. With the philosophy that tradition is continuous innovation, Hiyoshiya has not only preserved traditional techniques but also developed new products such as design lighting that make use of the wagasa’s structure and craftsmanship, expanding both domestically and internationally. Using the know-how and network that helped to increase the group’s total sales by about 150 times, in recent years Hiyoshiya has expanded into interior design, consulting, education, and travel businesses, all aimed at preserving and promoting traditional crafts across the Japan.

https://wagasa.com/ja