Shikishi – Traditional Japanese Art Boards
What is a Shikishi?
Shikishi (色紙) are traditional Japanese boards used for calligraphy, painting, and ink art. They are made from multiple layers of washi paper pressed together to create a rigid surface, typically finished with a gold border. For centuries, this refined format has been used by artists and calligraphers for poetry, brushwork, and small-format paintings.
Today, this elegant format continues to inspire contemporary artists. At Art San Gallery, several artists explore the possibilities of painting and mixed media on traditional shikishi boards, creating original artworks that bridge historical craftsmanship and modern artistic practice.
Understanding the shikishi
Before exploring contemporary practice, it is useful to establish what a shikishi is—linguistically, historically, materially, and visually.
The following pages introduce the key aspects of this format.
→ See Meaning of Shikishi: This page explores the linguistic and philological background of the word shikishi. While often translated as “colored paper,” the term refers to something far more specific and culturally significant. Here, we clarify the distinction and explain why this mistranslation persists.
→ See Shikishi Board: This page examines the physical characteristics of a shikishi: its materials, layered construction, format, and traditional uses. From laminated washi papers to the distinctive gold border, it addresses a simple question: what exactly is a shikishi?
→ See Shikishi Format & Aesthetic: This page explores the origins of the shikishi format, from its roots in Heian-period shikishigata to the standardized boards used today. It highlights how changing materials and evolving aesthetics shaped a format that continues to influence artistic expression.
The Shikishi Art Project
The Shikishi Art Project is an ongoing initiative by Art San Gallery that invites artists to work with the Japanese shikishi as a contemporary artistic support. Historically associated with calligraphy, ink painting, and writing, the shikishi is here approached not as a fixed or nostalgic object, but as a material, formal, and conceptual space open to experimentation. Rather than proposing a single definition or aesthetic, the project documents how artists today respond to the shikishi’s material qualities, format, golden borders, and aesthetic.
Artworks created on Japanese shikishi boards
Artists participating in the Shikishi Art Project work with shikishi boards through ink, oil painting, pastel, acrylic, and mixed media. Each work explores how a traditional Japanese support can remain active within contemporary artistic practice.
Artists & practices
The Shikishi Art Project is grounded in real artistic practices. Artists are invited to engage with the shikishi not as a decorative format, but as a working support—testing its limits, resistances, and possibilities through their own medium.
Artists currently participating in the project include:
→ See Artists & Practices
Explore artworks from the Shikishi Art Project
Original artworks created on traditional Japanese shikishi boards are regularly exhibited and available through Art San Gallery.
→ Browse available artworks
FAQ
→ Understanding Shikishi and the Shikishi Art Project
