Wallpaper may seem like a rather static subject, but nothing could be further from the truth. Its journey has been a long one — from the caravans travelling the Silk Road to the walls of today's designer hotels. It adorned the walls of palaces and grand houses before being embraced by the bourgeoisie and then by the working classes, and its colourful history is closely interwoven with social changes and historical events that have shaped the lives of many. A witness to the most intimate scenes of everyday life, wallpaper has always drawn its inspiration from its times, reflecting war and peace, revolutions and evolutions, fashions and customs, as faithfully as a history book. Between its hour of glory in the 19th century and its fall from fashion in the 1980s, wallpaper found its way into every home and became a backdrop to many childhood memories. After some time in the wilderness, it is now back with a vengeance. The big manufacturers are digging deep into their archives to rediscover the best of their own heritage, while contemporary artists and designers are using this ephemeral but versatile medium as a blank page for creativity. Wallpaper is perfectly in tune with our ambivalent age. Easily acquired and easily replaced, it suits our need for speed and changes to suit our whims. At the same time, however, it also answers our desire for reassurance, comfort and luxury. It straddles two very different domains - industry and artistry - and opens up and breaks down boundaries, blurring the line between art and design. Wallpaper is constantly reinventing itself: it is an interior design adventure that keeps taking us down new and exciting pathways.