Love for All Things- Shirt Front Left
Year: 2021
Media:Fiber Scraps:
Dimension: 25”L x12”W, 63 x30 (cm)
Love for All Things Shirt Sleeve Left
Year: 2021
Media: Fiber Scraps
Dimension: 20” x 18”, 50 x45 (cm)
Work Description
I am learning kimono weaving at the Yoshida weaving workshop in the Nishijin district, which is the center of kimono weaving in Japan. As is often the case when making textiles, weavers are worried that they may not have the required amount, so they dye more threads than they need. The remaining threads are of little use in making new kimono fabrics. This is because the weaver decides to create a new piece based on a design plan such as thread size and color combination. If I don't take advantage of these leftover threads, they will be thrown away someday. I never sewed with weaving thread, but I decided to try it. Not only in the workshop, but also in my house, the rest of the thread used for sewing in the past has not been used for years. In addition to that, I thought that the cloth used for trial dyeing and scrap after making the work could be incorporated into my new work.
I drew a design on a non-woven fabric that dissolves in water, and used the zigzag function of the sewing machine to draw a picture on it with those threads and cloth. This work uses a shirt pattern, so if the foundation cloth is dissolved in water, each will be finished in the shape of a shirt part. Since there is no base, the thread part will be lace. The part that incorporates the cloth is finished as embroidery.
This design is a reused of a previously made wedding kimono called Uchikake. In contrast to this colorful finish, the kimono fabric was lined with gold ink and it was burned with incense sticks, leaving only the lines. I chose the patterns traditionally used for Japanese ceremonial kimonos such as upper and lower dragons, peony, wisteria, chrysanthemums, owls and butterflies.
I'm trying to give new value and meaning by finding new perspectives on what is considered useless and what I have created earlier. I am also trying to take advantage of the zigzag features of sewing machines that are used only for limited purposes, such as engraving names and trimming fabrics.