The Poet of Paper – where Japanese tradition meets Nordic minimalism
Etsuko Oide creates paper works that balance on the edge between sculpture and poetry. With roots on the Japanese island of Hokkaido and a long-time base in Copenhagen, she unites two worlds in her artistic expression: the depth and refinement of Japan and the calm and simplicity of the Nordic. Paper is her material of choice and has followed her throughout her life. Already as a child, she was surrounded by traditional Japanese art forms such as calligraphy and origami, a heritage that is clearly reflected in her works today. But while tradition provides the tools, it is play and curiosity that drive her practice. Oide's works are built from layers, folds, shadows, and light all with an almost meditative precision. Series like Kamiasobi (“play with paper”) reveal an intuitive and experimental approach, where the hand and the material are allowed to take the lead. Her works appear at first glance quiet and light, yet on closer inspection contain a deep complexity, a “quiet storm,” as the title of her acclaimed solo exhibition in 2023 aptly described. She creates works that invite immersion. They float in the room, and yet they feel anchored in something timeless and sensory. Black-and-white compositions are broken by discreet tones of colour, patterns, and hidden shapes often created using her own watercolours, which are integrated into the layers of the paper. Some pieces include small human figures, suggesting narrative elements open to both humour and contemplation. Etsuko Oide was educated at Sundsgården School of Art in Sweden and worked for several years as a graphic designer in Tokyo, where she also ran her own design firm. In 2006, she moved to Denmark, where she continues to live and work. Her art carries a rare sense of calm, but it also holds movement, depth, and understated drama. Each fold, each shadow, each opening in the paper is an invitation to contemplation. A silent cry in a world of noise.
