The Park Hotel Tokyo inside Shiodome Media Tower completed the Artist Room Washi (traditional Japanese paper), the third Artist Room for its Artist in Hotel project in which entire guest rooms are decorated by artists. It started in December 2012.

    In the project, participating artists work on the rooms to turn them into art pieces based on the inspiration they obtained while staying at the hotel and receiving hotel services. Largely themed on "Japanese aesthetics," artists paint on the walls and decorate the rooms with their original paintings and art objects. Completed Artist Rooms are artworks encapsulating their creators' passions and views.

    Artist Naoki Takenouchi created the third Artist Room with the theme of traditional Japanese paper washi during his 17-day stay at the hotel from Nov. 14 to Nov. 30, 2013. "Washi is very flexible for various arrangements and suits my artwork perfectly" he said.

    Making the most of the characteristics which have been passed through the ages in Japan, Takenouchi painted on the walls, pasted images of woodcut prints and created lampshades with the paper. He pasted 108 small prints of gods creating a larger image of the god of wind Fujin and the god of thunder Raijin on the walls, matching the number of earthly human desires bonno, also believed to be 108.

[Artist Room Washi Outline]

Opening: Dec. 10th, 2013 (both online and phone reservations accepted)

Room Rate: 40,000 yen per night for two persons (excluding taxes and service charges)

Reservations and other questions: +81-3-6252-1100

http://www.parkhoteltokyo.com/artcolours/en/aih.html

[Co-operation] Hagurodo (http://www.hagurodo.jp)

[Production] creative unit moon (http://www.moooon.jp)

Message from Naoki Takenouchi

I started wood engraving 30 years ago. In those days as I started cutting, I became totally absorbed, and large works took shape one after another. Eventually, I was no longer satisfied with wood engraving, and expanded my field of expression from two dimensions to the world of three. I continue to strive for an environment where I can express myself freely.

This Artist Room features the unique characteristics of Japanese paper, which has been used since ancient times in Japan. It can be painted, printed, crumpled, folded or rolled, and it's strong. You can do whatever you like with it, so it is a perfect material for me to work with. I hope those who stay have a comfortable experience surrounded by Japanese tradition and creativity.

Takenouchi's biography

Naoki Takenouchi, artist, born 1946 in Kagoshima He sticks Japanese paper on his own original woodblocks to make gigantic structures which have freely changing expressions in harmony with the space around them. He is a very dynamic artist who in New York collaborated with fashion designers, and in Tokyo and Paris, created works that were worn on the street. He also received an international art promotion grant from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, and even stretched a 7km net over a river.

[For Media]

Please feel free to contact us for questions regarding previews and trial stays of the Artist Room Washi. Up to 2-night stay per company (1 to 2 persons) is available. Previews and trial stays of the two other Artist Rooms are accepted as well.

The Park Hotel Tokyo, which opened on Sept. 1, 2003, is the first Tokyo member of Design Hotels brand headquartered in Berlin. The hotel aims to offer unique and creative services. It supports the "Creative Tokyo" initiative, part of the "Cool Japan Strategy Program" promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to spread Japanese culture around the world, and provides venues for events to revitalize Tokyo.