In La Beauté dans Chaque Éventail, designers Chou Yao Ting and Yu Ying Chieh reimagine the timeless elegance of folding fans through a cross-cultural lens—an achievement that earned them the Diamond Prize in Exhibition & Event Space Design at the Golden Arc Design Award 2025 Season 1.
Set in Paris, the exhibition pays tribute to Kyoto’s centuries-old fan-making tradition by presenting 40 handcrafted folding fans that seamlessly unite Japanese craftsmanship with Chinese calligraphy and ink painting. Drawing inspiration from the fan’s journey—from its noble beginnings in 8th-century Japan to its cultural revival across Asia and Europe—the duo collaborated with two historical Kyoto ateliers, preserving artisanal techniques that date back to the Edo period.
Each fan, framed with poetic restraint in a minimalist spatial design, becomes a vessel of layered meaning. Chinese literary aesthetics—calligraphy, seal carving, poetry—are delicately inscribed on the fans, echoing the rhythm, breath, and philosophy embedded in brush and ink. In contrast, the Japanese tradition offers structured formality and refined simplicity. The exhibition reflects this dialogue: a harmony of two cultures, one object at a time.
“Even without understanding the language,” the designers note, “viewers can feel the rhythm in the strokes, the pulse in the silence. Beauty is its own language.”
Through their award-winning installation, Chou and Yu ask us to reconsider how cultural memory is preserved—and how design can illuminate history without words.
Full Interview
1. What inspired the choice to explore Kyoto’s fan-making heritage as the foundation for this project?
Folding fans originated in 8th-century Japan, where they were a staple for nobles and samurai. Around the 13th century, during China's Northern Song Dynasty, they were introduced to China and became favored by literati. Su Che, a renowned poet of that era, even penned a poem titled "Yang Zhubu's Japanese Fan" after acquiring one. Later, via the Silk Road and the Age of Discovery in the 17th century, folding fans made their way to Europe, becoming a widespread trend among the upper classes. It's said that 150 fan shops existed in Paris alone at that time. Given that this exhibition is held in Paris, the curator hopes to merge this cultural and historical significance by creating approximately 40 folding fans, combining traditional Japanese hand-fan craftsmanship from Kyoto with Chinese calligraphy and painting. These pieces will serve as artworks that transcend centuries and borders, harmonizing classical and modern aesthetics.
2. Is there a specific detail in one of the fans that holds personal or symbolic meaning for you?
It is well-known that Japan preserves and respects its history and culture, even adhering to traditions that have endured for thousands of years, such as using different folding fans for various occasions and genders. Among these, fans entirely produced in the Kyoto region, from raw materials to finished products, are known as "Kyo-sensu" (Kyoto fans). KASASHIMA GALLERY has collaborated with two Kyoto-based fan workshops, both founded during the Edo period. These professional fan artisans meticulously handcraft each piece, reflecting our commitment to cultural and historical preservation, and paying homage to centuries-old craftsmanship. The Chinese calligraphy or painting on the fan surfaces integrates traditional Chinese characters, painting, poetry, and seal carving, embodying the literary and aesthetic essence of the Chinese nation and its continuous cultural legacy.
3. What reflections or realizations do you hope audiences will have about cultural dialogue after seeing this exhibition?
Art is a universal force that transcends national, ethnic, and linguistic boundaries. Even without a deep understanding of Asian calligraphy and ink painting techniques or their specific meanings, the rhythmic brushwork, layered depth, and inherent vitality of the characters can still deeply move viewers. This demonstrates that aesthetic resonance goes beyond geographical limits, representing a shared human perception. While Japan and China each possess their unique regional spirits, the written characters and art forms of these two regions actually share the same origin, having evolved with distinct characteristics over time. This exhibition integrates the Chinese pursuit of rhythmic vitality and the philosophical concepts embedded in Chinese painting and calligraphy with Japan's unique aesthetics, poetic sensibility, and profound cultural appreciation. For this exhibition's design, KASASHIMA GALLERY specifically emphasized spatial simplicity and the restrained use of color and booth space. This approach highlights the exquisite paintings and folding fans, allowing the artworks to stand out, and also embodies the diversity and localized characteristics of culture in its transmission and development.
