Folding Space Japanese and UK Artists' Books

30 January to 28 March 2026

An exhibition of contemporary book artworks and artists’ books made in the UK and Japan. This exhibition is part of a wider series of projects taking place over 2025 and 2026 beginning with an exhibition at Urawa Art Museum in Saitama, Japan, that explores the connection between UK and Japanese artists and the books they make.

Folding Space is the project’s second iteration. It features books created by Japanese artists alongside selections from the University of Southampton Library’s collection of artists’ books, held at Winchester School of Art.

Folding Space seeks to close the distance between Japan and the UK by showing how artists from different cultures explore specific themes and techniques of book construction, design and creative practice in a multiplicity of ways.

The artworks from Japan have travelled to meet their UK counterparts in the space of the gallery. Displayed together, they will communicate and connect to open up further dialogue around what a book is and can be.

Co-curated by The Winchester Gallery, Seiji Shinohara, Catherine Polley and Noriko Suzuki-Bosco.

Developed in partnership with the Urawa Art Museum, Japan, the University of the West of England, Bristol, UK and the University of Southampton, UK.

Funded by: The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation