Description

For her solo exhibition, Kami no Kotoba, Paper Words, Karen Trask presented six sculptural works. All but one of the works was created during the artist’s research and creation residency at the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec studio in Tokyo. The focus of her residency was the exploration of poetry and calligraphy and their relationship with paper, as well as various techniques for manipulating paper, such as Shifu (making a paper thread out of a sheet). This exhibition is a response to that research. Poetry is at the heart of the exhibition. Four poems by Karen Trask have been translated from French and English into Japanese by Masashi Ogura. With the help of moulding techniques, the words of the poems take physical form in paper – washi made from kozo, the main plant used to produce handmade

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Statement

For the works Kami no Kotoba, Paper Words I was interested in exploring where language comes from, the origin and evolution of written and spoken words and positing language is a living organism.

Karen Trask, 2025




Publications

An Artist Residency, A Beautiful Moment
Karen Trask (2019). Vie des Arts, (Issue 256), automne 2019.

Karen Trask talks about the importance and the significance of residencies to her and her work.

Obsolete Concepts
Melissa Bennett & Olivia Lam (2009). Gallery Lambton, Sarnia, Ontario and The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, Ontario, 24 pages.

The catalogue accompanying the exhibition of the same name, Obsolete Concepts is a look at the book as an object. The exhibition was curated by the authors and the exhibition was presented at Gallery Lambton, Sarnia, Ontario and The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, Ontario.


Keywords: artist book
6e Triennale internationale du papier Viviane Fontaine
Patrick Rudaz (2008). Musée Charmey, Val-de-Charmey, Switzerland, 94 pages.
To Touch Words
James D. Campbell (2008). ETC, (83), 51–57.

Exhibition review of Karen Trask, Living Language Live at La Centrale; Cette nuit, défaire, at Galerie Powerhouse January 18 — February 10, 2008; and Où vont les mots at Galerie d’art d’Outremont, March 6 — 30, 2008.

Renouer le dialogue
Françoise Belu (2008). Spirale, Numéro 221, juillet–août 2008, p. 8–10.

Ephemera

Vernissage photos

Photos of the vernissage in Tokyo with the Québec delegation.

Promotion: Exhibition invitation