In 2020, The  Paper Academy welcomes a number of courses and events in handmade paper as an artistic means of expression, providing insight into the historical, biological, geographical, chemical, ecological and aesthetic aspects of paper. Both theoretical and practical work is done on simple and more complex variations in the paper manufacturing process. Course participants gain knowledge of handmade paper as a means of expression, as technique, surface and substance.

Following. topics will be highlighted:

History of paper: The paper traditions of the East / West. The paper road from China over Korea to Japan, to the journey to the west and to the United States, where the handmade paper had its renaissance in the 50s. The history of paper as a craft was turned into paper as an art form.

The geography and biology of paper: The vegetation of cultures has an impact on the paper that has and still is been produced. There is a difference between the East’s bast fibers, which are suitable for 3-dimensionality and the West’s paper, made from rags for 2-dimensionality

Paper chemistry: In the invisible inner space of handmade paper, plant fibers are joined in the space of the sheet. How is cellulose released? How do plant fibers turn into bio-based pulp and paper?

The aesthetics of paper: For centuries, paper for communication has been the carrier of our culture despite the fact that it played a secondary role as a humble backdrop for text and image. This is how paper in the Western world was considered right up to the 19th century. Subsequently, the material itself became aesthetically important, becoming an independent part of the artwork or the entire artwork itself.

Paper/ Psychology: The professional maker of a sheet of paper has her own personal stroke. If the maker is in balance within herself, she will create a perfect sheet of paper. If the maker is not in balance within herself, she loses control over her stroke. The act, the stroke and the paper reflect the maker’s contact with her mind and her senses – her inner balance. Making paper has the possibilities of enlarging both psychological and physical knowledge about oneself.

Paper/ Future: Within the paper art and architecture – the future goes hand in hand with technology, 3d printing in cellulose, computational origami, innovative and renewable materials, that all offer opportunities for increased use of paper, and other cause changes in demand for different grades of paper.

The culture of paper: The culture of a country is reflected in handmade paper made in that specific  country. The paper itself tells about a country’s history and development.