Passion and luck: Washi tape portrait artist Ge Mapa tells the tale of the tape

It was in the 2013 Bloom Arts Festival when Ge Mapa first showed off her washi tape portraits. A graphic designer by profession, she wanted an outlet for her art that was not digital. 
 

“I always look up the Net [for] something that hasn't been done,” she told GMA News Online in an email interview. “I've had several ideas before but then when I checked them online, may nakagawa na!” 
 

As she was a huge washi tape fan—with lots of tape on stock—she decided to try her hand at portraits, a craft project that periodically shows up on sites like Pinterest. Her work for Bloom Arts was a series of portraits featuring Andy Warhol, the model Twiggy, and fellow graphic artist “Garovs” Garovillo.
 

Other than those who are into the craft, many of us may not have encountered this Japanese paper tape, which is made from the bark of certain trees. It is not to be confused with Japanese paper—far from being flimsy, it is a strong material, making it very popular in the crafts scene. Washi tape is closer to Japanese tissue, a tough paper used in restoring old print books. 
 

Exhibits and interviews galore
 

Mapa recently launched her third washi tape portrait series at Heima Home and Lifestyle’s Pasig branch. 
 

After she demonstrated her craft at a workshop at Heima, her work caught the attention of owner Bong Rojales. He invited her to do a special series to mark the lifestyle store’s fifth anniversary in May 2014. 
 

Mapa mounted a series of washi tape portraits featuring characters from the films of American director Wes Anderson. There were characters from “The Royal Tennenbaums” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” and even the very recent “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” But it was one portrait of the titular character of  “The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou” that got her widespread attention.
 

The portrait of Bill Murray was Mapa’s entry to an art exhibit in San Francisco honoring the actor’s various roles over the years. Not long after a Huffington Post article on the exhibit (with her washi tape portrait appearing uncredited), Time magazine asked if they could use her Steve Zissou entry for a brief piece on the show. 
 

Mapa’s work would be seen in magazines all over the world. She admitted that it was enough that her piece made it to the San Francisco show. “Being featured in Time magazine because of that was totally surreal,” she said. She added, “I guess it was passion and luck working hand-in-hand.”
 

After the Anderson portraits, Heima invited Mapa to work on an exhibit—and given that it was going to be launched in August, coinciding with Buwan ng Wika, the topic suggested was Filipino icons.

She chose the subjects, including actress Nora Aunor and a band who recently released two new tunes through Esquire magazine, the Eraserheads. (Her husband, musician Diego Mapa, was part of successor band Cambio and plays with Raimund Marasigan in Pedicab.)
 

Mapa said that she might continue pursuing washi tape portraits, but not for long. “I actually have a new medium in mind that I’d like to try,” she said. “You see, you have to keep innovating.” 
 

As to what this innovation will lead to, only time will tell. — VC, GMA News