Urauchi is a backing technique applied to paper or silk to reinforce the artworks and prevent their deformation. This technique is not only used for traditional Japanese art such as scroll paintings, frames, sliding doors and folding screens, but also used to repair Japanese and Western bookbinding.
This is an essential process for exhibiting works painted on thin paper or silk, but many people may think it is difficult to apply since it requires special tools and techniques, therefore, PIGMENT TOKYO held a workshop about Urauchi backing and Hyoso mounting for those who find these techniques challenging.
*This event has ended. Find the latest information about our workshops here.
At the beginning of the workshop, Mr. Monobe gave us a demonstration.
He showed us the process of how a piece of crumpled and torn Hanshi (thin paper) can be repaired through Urauchi backing.
Shown on the left is a Hanshi prepared for the demonstration.
Let’s take a closer look at how this torn paper is fixed by the backing technique.
First, the artwork was spread out with a wet Hake brush.
Then, the tweezers are used to adjust the position of torn parts while the glue is applied to the whole surface of the Urauchi paper.
After the main artwork and Urauchi paper are glued together, stretch it on a Karibari-ita ( temporary attaching board) to let it dry.
The photo below shows the torn artwork stretched on the board temporarily.
You can see how the damaged paper has been repaired beautifully by Urauchi backing.
For more detailed information on the backing process, please refer to""An Introductory Guide to Urauchi Backing —Method—" in PIGMENT ARTICLES.
PIGMENT TOKYO’s staff also tried to do Urauchi backing on a wrinkled piece.
Although it depends on the thickness of the paper, thin Washi paper can be removed from the board in a few hours, while the ones we used this time are pretty thick, so it needed about a day to dry.
Here is a comparison between before and after stretching out the artwork. The wrinkled Washi paper has been flattened out like the picture shown.
Urauchi backing can be applied to not only artworks done with ink or mineral pigments but also acrylic paintings.
“Let's Play with Traditional Techniques!” is a workshop for parents and children to make small folding screens and hanging scrolls with their children's artwork.
In the second half of the workshop, participants tried applying Urauchi backing to their artworks.
Not only adults but also children were completely concentrated on the process until the end of the workshop.
Our workshops are fully guided by instructors, so children can get assistance to work even on their own.
Works drawn with crayons on drawing paper can also be applied with Urauchi backing.
Although the traditional Urauchi technique may seem unfamiliar to most of us, after the workshop, we all started to feel a little more comfortable and connected with this traditional technique when we used it to fix something in our daily lives.
Although this workshop was only up for a limited time, the tools used for Urauchi backing are always available at our store.
If you would like to try it by yourself, please refer to our articles
"An Introductory Guide to Urauchi Backing －Overview－" and "An Introductory Guide to Urauchi Backing —Method—", or feel free to contact our art materials experts for more information.
Event Information
*This event has ended.
Find the latest information about our workshops here.
［Special Workshop] Urauchi lining
Date: August 12 (Sat.), 2023
Time: 13:00-17:00
Instructor: Yasunori Monobe (from Monobe Gasendo)
Fee: ¥16,500 (tax and materials included)
Suggested age: All ages are welcome
［Summer Break Family Event] Let's Play with Traditional Techniques!
Dates：August 13, 2023 (Sun.)
*This event has ended.
Time: 13:00-16:00
Instructor: Yasunori Monobe (from Monobe Gasendo)
Fee: ¥14,300 per parent & child pair (max. 2 persons) (tax and materials included)
Suggested age: 4 years old and up
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