The 13th Paper Festival is here!

The thirteenth Paper festival took place on 27 and 28 of July. The event has become one of the more important dates on the summer calendar in the historical Kłodzko Land, anticipated by numerous tourists. The aim of the festivities has been to popularise knowledge about paper, its history and significance in the modern world (it is difficult to imagine an ordinary day without paper). During the event we also promote the paper mill in Duszniki, which is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Poland.

The 13th edition was abundant in Japanese accents, and as such was called the “Japanese Dozen”. On Saturday, Yasu Suzuka, a distinguished artist presented the workshop for his exhibition : “Reincarnating shirts – shirt’s Nirvana”, we opened his “Wind mandala” exhibition and listed to KOTO in the hands of Katarzyna Karpowicz, a Japanese instrument, being played by a graduate of Japanology. There was on opportunity to make a KOKESHI doll and stain a sheet using the SHIBORI method.

The Paper Festival turned out to be a scorching event – the heat coming from the heavens let itself be felt by the visitors, artists, exhibitors and museum staff. Mutual goodwill and great interest in the attractions were helpful in overcoming the inconveniences. Apart from the works prepared by artists and museologists, as many as 60 regional souvenir craftsmen awaited the visitors.

KOTO concerts turned out to be a great attraction for Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The sound of that original Japanese 13 string instrument was brought to us by Katarzyna Karpowicz – Japanology graduate fascinated by the culture of the Land of the Rising Sun. There are a number of KOTO in Poland, but only Katarzyna plays regular concerts popularising Japanese music. During the Paper Festival seven pieces were played relating to Japanese culture.

It was possible to organise the event as such a level due to the funding received: from the Lower Silesia Province, Kłodzko County and  Duszniki-Zdrój Commune. Mondi Świecie S.A. was the industry sponsor.

The Paper Festival is becoming a significant media event. Polish national, regional and local mass media were represented at the event an “live” reports were aired by radio Wrocław and TVP INFO, the most popular news channel in Poland. Most importantly, the event was received enthusiastically by the guests – 8 thousand people participated in the 13th edition, who also visited the Museum of Papermaking.

Maciej Szymczyk

Museum of Papermaking Director