Folding Space – A Japanese Inspired Zine Workshop

On Tuesday 10th February the children and adults from the 5s to 13s Befriending service were given a private viewing of the incredible Folding Space Exhibition at the Winchester Art Gallery on Park Avenue. They were able to explore the variety of different representations of books that were on display while Gallery Manager, Kate Maple, explained that some of the contemporary book art exhibition had come all the way from Japan. She then invited the children and volunteers to create their own books using a huge range of resources, some of which were also Japanese in origin.

The children were shown how to make an 8 paged mini book called a zine from one piece of paper before having the freedom to decorate their books from a the range of beautiful papers, stickers and Japanese tapes and pens that Kate had provided. The children and volunteers all got stuck into the task, creating their own individual books. The activity was calming and very therapeutic, with the children all focussed on their own creativity for over an hour. During the session one child was overheard saying to his befriender, “I love doing this, I could it all day!”

Kate also reminded the children and the adults that the gallery is somewhere they can all come again and that there is a Creation Station available at all times with a variety of art resources and ideas for them to explore.

We are so grateful to Kate and her team for welcoming us all into the gallery and for providing this inspiring workshop and all the resources for free. Thank you!