Working with the Grain is an artist-led workshop with Japanese-born, Australian-based artist Mika Nakamura-Mather, introducing participants to Kyōgi — thin sheets of wood veneer traditionally used in Japan for writing and record keeping before paper became widespread.
Participants will work closely with the natural grain of Kyōgi, using it as a starting point to respond to a personal photograph of an outdoor place that holds meaning. Using Japanese pigments, watercolours, brushes, and pens, participants will embed pigment directly onto the wood surface, allowing the grain to shape the image that emerges.
All Kyōgi sheets are pre-mounted by the artist on postcard-sized supports, and all materials are provided. The workshop takes place alongside Nakamura-Mather’s exhibition Ichigo-Ichie at PARKER Contemporary, offering insight into the ideas, materials, and processes behind the artist’s practice.
Cost: $195 per person
(All materials included; matcha tea served. Maximum of 8 participants.)
Skill level: Open to all ages and experience levels
Bring: A photograph of an outdoor landscape of personal significance
Date: Sunday 15 February 2026
Time: 10:00am – 1:00pm
