Through paper—the simplest and purest of materials—the accumulated time of artist Tete quietly approaches like traces left by the changing seasons.
Layer by layer, sheets of paper are stacked according to the flow of time and emotion. Through repetition and accumulation, the works become singular sculptural forms. Lightweight paper gains depth through layering, while emptiness and overlap create new resonance within space.
This exhibition reveals how the act of layering itself may become both a record of time and a method of contemplation. We hope it becomes a moment to encounter quietness gently settling into everyday life
About the Artist
The artist Tete embeds clear meaning within both name and work.
The name “Tete” originates from the sound a small child makes when wanting to hold someone’s hand, while also drawing inspiration from the French word Le thé, meaning tea. The name conveys a sense of warmth and familiarity through hands, tea, and softly repeated sounds.
Having studied Japanese painting, the artist naturally became familiar with washi (traditional Japanese paper), later choosing paper as a primary material in order to more widely share the beauty of this traditional craft.
Through water-resistant processing techniques, Tete expands the possibilities of paper as a functional material.
Works utilizing Korean hanji paper also originate from inspiration drawn from bojagi, Korea’s traditional wrapping cloth craft. By connecting materials rooted in different traditions, the artist creates new sculptural language.
The leaf-like forms adopted in the tea trays themselves derive from tea leaves. Grounded in both nature and tradition, Tete’s works reinterpret these elements through a contemporary sensibility.