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<Concept of the work> Makie crafts, wood articles primed with natural resin (Urushi) and finished by gold lacquering, are environmentally friendly products that have been well known since the 16th century in Europe, as sophisticated Japanese arts and crafts. This piece, features Japanese medaka (killfish) and waves and highlights the touching beauty that is Makie, a craft that has an ancient tradition and is generated by the meticulous use of natural materials. The wave represents the infinite and the medaka symbolize the breath of life cast into it's bosom. About KYO- MAKIE The technique was developed during the Heian period (794-1192 A.D.) and has since been handed down from generation to generation. A variety of designs are first drawn with a brush on an object that has been prepared or "primed" using only lacquer. Gold and silver dust is then sprinkled on the base to finish the design. These objects are often later lacquered again, or polished with charcoal to make them durable for practical use. This decorative method has been developed and refined as a unique Japanese artistic craft over a long period of history. It boasts an unlimited power of expression that can be articulated through the amount of dust, or the thickness, strength, depth and stereoscopic effects of gold plating, as well as a myriad of other processes that can be employed with each individual piece. 
<Concept of the work> Kazaridana is traditionally equipped with four doors, two of which slide open in the middle. This technique provides a wide storage space in the cupboard when the doors are opened to the full width. About KYO-SASHIMONO Sashimono is exquisite woodwork made by interlocking various wood parts. Kyoto-style work originated in the imperial culture of the Heian period and has since been developed within sophisticated circles such as the world of Sado (tea ceremony) and the "temple culture". Kyoto artists develop mostly furnishings and utensils for the tea ceremony and for Japanese living environs.The woodwork is distinctive in it's sophisticated design, making good use of wood bending, interlocking and carving skills. The lacquered grain of fine wood is the most distinguished characteristic of a finished piece. Akio Iguchi is a widely recognized Kyoto-style Sashimono artist, who is not only a master of the traditional, but an innovator of the modern as he collaborates with Toshiyuki Kita, a Japanese modern-art designer.
<Concept of the work> The theme of this work is 'light'. I expressed the mysteriousness of mind by twining stillness and movement with techniques of arranged "Kyo-Kechi" and "Ro-Kechi". I hope that the quiet sound of waves will flow to your heart from this work. About KYO-KECHIZOME More than 1200 years ago, this dyeing technique died out, hence the name "phantom". In Shoso-In, built in the 8th century in Nara(first capital of the Yamato dynasty) many ancient treasures of great historic value have been preserved. Among these treasures there are three kinds of textiles, which are called "the Three Kechi of Tenpei". Tenpei is a period from 729 to 767 in Japan, and "Kechi" names the method of dyeing, indicating the classic method of tied or bound "resist" dyeing. These 3 kinds of textiles were dyed with very advanced techniques in those days. The technique of each textile is called "Kyo-Kechi, Ko-Kechi, and Ro-Kechi". "Kyo-Kechi" is a dyeing of tied or bound resist, and "Ro-Kechi" is a dyeing of wax resist, or in other words batik. These 2 techniques of dyeing have been handed down from one generation to the other until now. However, "Kyo-Kechi" had died out in very early times because of its technical difficulties. Until recently it has been impossible to revive the technique."Kyo-Kechi" is the technique also called 'Ita (board)-zime (clamp)'. Its process is to fold and clamp the cloth between carved wooden boards and then pour dye on to the carved places on the boards. The main characteristic of "Kyo-Kechi" dyeing is its softness. The cloth resisted and clamped by wooden boards, gets unique mellow patterns that cannot be seen with other dyeing techniques. Meiji Uchida is the artist who revived this ancient technique and adopted this "Dyeing of Phantom" to his modern art.    |
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