As we’re entering a digital era, digital communication has gradually taken the place of so-called cold media such as paper. Given that, would paper eventually be eliminated from the list of communication media? Or would it continue to secure a place for itself in a different form and sense? TAKEO, a leading Japanese paper distributor, is known for its ingenious exploration into the potential of paper. According to TAKEO, paper is a material that brings happiness and hence could be deemed as a piece of art. Story of Paper, a book recently published by Wenjing Publishing House, and La dépense, the latest catalogue presented by RAM, both chose TAKEO’s paper. During the discussion, the two speakers will share their stories with paper as well as the development and contemporary uses of paper.
During the long course of human civilization, paper has always been considered of paramount importance. It is almost ubiquitous in our life in a variety of forms: books, letters, paintings, food packaging and greeting cards, etc. More than a medium to contain information, paper is also deemed as a material that inspires emotions. Thin as a piece of paper is, it gives out a unique sense of subtlety and delicacy which could be perceived when we touch, flip, observe and smell it. Such is the charisma of paper. However, the rise of digital technologies has made a profound change on how people communicate and share information. When is the last time we read a paper book or send a paper greeting card? Moreover, the outbreak of the pandemic has further deepened our dependence on a lifestyle heavily online. People are asked to avoid physical contact and most of the communication nowadays is conducted digitally. As we are now trying to gain our normal life back, we hope that through the medium of “paper” we could inspire people to reconsider the relationship between man and the world, and to encourage people to communicate, express and make their voice heard.
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