Over time, the Japanese mastery of weaving, dyeing, embroidery and stitching techniques has created a rich array of decorated textiles, which have proved to be a source of inspiration for many UK-based artists, eight of which are featured here.
Rob Jones is a textiles designer and natural dyer who works with shibori (resist dyeing), katagami stencilling, sashiko (embroidery), and kogin (counted thread embroidery). Janice Gunner is an artist, teacher, author and quilt judge whose work features contemporary art textile and quilt techniques such as indigo dyeing, shibori, vintage Japanese fabrics, digitally manipulated and printed designs. Working with nature as both his inspiration and as a source of material, Takadoi Kazuhito creates using flora that are simply dried then woven, stitched or tied. A maker, teacher, author and researcher of textiles, Jacqui Carey is on the UK's leading exponents of kumihimo braiding. Norfolk-based Caroline Hyde-Brown creates new visual narratives by exploring traditional techniques, such as hand embroidery, knit and weave.
Erna Janine has worked with natural textiles for two decades and is passionate about saori free weaving, a handweaving technique developed by Misao Jo. Based in Sheffield, Kinoshita Seiko uses traditional textile techniques to create contemporary art work and installations. A Japanese aesthetic and influences from an African childhood unconsciously bleed into the work of Ross Belton. Natural dyes, rusting metal and homegrown plants feed into his adventure of textile alchemy. • Visitors are required to book their free ticket in advance and bring any form of photographic identification to show Embassy staff on arrival.
Venue: The Embassy of Japan, 101-104 Piccadilly, Mayfair, London W1J 7JT