Michiko
Kawarabayashi – First Thoughts
Here is my plan with Ealish. Day by
day there is so much I would like to do with her, therefore
our task will be how to use our time wisely. Once I start
working with my hands, my brain follows and I am really looking
forward to having her with me.
The plan
1. Rediscover the ‘beauty’ of Japanese craft.
2. Look into Japanese traditional ‘beauty’. Create
the opportunity for Ealish to discover and be inspired through
the experience.
3. Investigate the Japanese traditional techniques, for example
‘tying’. ‘braiding or plaiting’ and
‘folding’. Study how it has been made and used,
experiment with the making and discuss.
For example: rice straw work from the
silkworm culture.
I came upon the rice straw work used in the past by the farmers
to culture the silkworms and was interested in the form and
technique, and I have just started to try to use this technique
in my own work (see photo 1).
Another example: mizuhiki – paper
strings used to tie presents.
I am intrigued by the beauty of ‘mizuhiki’, paper
strings used at weddings or funerals, and also the Japanese
traditional way of ‘tying’. I am now trying in
various ways to use mizuhiki and mosquito net material in
my work. (see photo 2) I will show these samples to Ealish.
As a basis to understand Japanese traditional
beauty I list the following as an introduction for Ealish.
We will discuss what she discovers through her experiences
of these things and explore how to develop the ideas into
work.
- Japanese art and craft
- Techniques: chipping, braiding, folding,
knitting, weaving, paper making, lacquering, dying with
a round brush, tying
- Materials: fibre (silk, linen, cotton,
wool), paper, wood, lacquer
- Design: pattern, colour, colour arrangement
- Performance art:
- Noh play (costume)
- Tea ceremony (tea utensils, garden,
kimono, costume)
- Incense smelling ceremony for
judging the variety (utensil)
- Religious events: temples, shrines
(decorations, things used, paintings on the sliding doors)
- Art in daily life: folk art, annual
functions (of the traditional townspeople)
- Nature: variety of the four seasons
- Art and craft: exhibitions, expositions
(the space where are and craft are shown and the reaction
of people)
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Ealish
Wilson – Response to Project
Monday 31st March 2003
Practical application of techniques is
my ideal working method, so the project has started well.
In all the areas of art/craft that I
have studied, my main interest has always been to research
traditional working practices and their development. I was
delighted to receive Michiko’s proposal which contains
these elements.
Researching the traditional aspects of
Japanese art will be fascinating and a sound aesthetic foundation
for our collaborative work. I am particularly intrigued by
‘mizuhiki’ paper strings which sound to be extremely
tactile and decorative.
The mix of traditional and contemporary
textiles/fibres is very exciting and will create diversity
in the work through their combination.
I am now counting down and can’t
wait to be in Japan, immersed in new experiences.
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