EXHIBITION

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Imura Art Gallery is pleased to announce “織(Ori)Scopic,” a solo exhibition by Aya Kawato and her first in Japan in 3 years.

Since she was a small child, Aya Kawato has been influenced by her neuroscientist father. This influence fostered an awareness that the world is perceived through the brain, and made her particularly interested in optical illusions. After studying textiles as an undergraduate in Kyoto, Kawato sought out different methods of expression and arrived at her current grid painting style which expresses themes of control and imperfection. Her visual practices focuses on forming an empathetic connection with the viewer regarding the existence of areas beyond the reach of human knowledge and created through these moments of imperfection.

Kawato has based her practice on the words of Soetsu Yanagi (1889-1961), an advocate of the mingei (folk craft) movement, who wrote in Bashofu Monogatari, The beauty of kasuri textiles lies precisely in the fact that the patterns contain imperfections within them. With this concept of kasuri style imperfection in mind, Kawato recognized that the imperfect kasuri textiles hold a beauty that reflects the limits of intentional expression and has incorporated this idea into her own creative process.

This exhibition will feature 12 new works which contain 45 degree diagonal lines layered into Kawato’s usual grid compositions. Wallpaper will also be used alongside these paintings to create an immersive, fluctuating installation experience for viewers as they move throughout the exhibition space. We hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity and come experience the work for yourself.




reference: Kawato, Aya. 2018. ‘Researching structures of control and imperfection in Oshima Tsumugi textiles.’ Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo.





−Artist Statement


A few months ago I contacted Mr. Hajime, an Oshima Tsumugi textile manufacturer, and asked him to send me a video of the textile creation process. Mr. Hajime was an invaluable help to me during my PhD studies when I was researching the structures of control and imperfection in Oshima Tsumugi textile production. When I contacted him for images of this delicate weaving process, Mr. Hajime sent me a video of a technique called kasuri awase.


I watched the video as soon as I received it. While I was struck by the intricate kasuri awase process, what attracted me most was the beauty of the vertical warp threads that had not yet been woven together with the horizontal weft threads.
These dyed warp threads created an unfinished pattern which I unconsciously began to complete. Humans have a perceptual tendency to fill in the gaps in incomplete patterns, and I found myself enjoying the way my mind was creating the image on the cloth as it was being woven. Inspired by this, I decided to create a series of paintings with 45-degree diagonal lines overlapping perpendicular ones.



photograph courtesy of Hajime Shoji



織Scopic

The character “織” is pronounced “ori” and means “weave.” The suffix “-scopic” is taken from macroscopic, mesoscopic, and microscopic. These latter 3 are important keywords for my work because they express the ways in which my paintings shift and change depending on large, mid-range, or short viewing distances.


As you examine the work in this show from different distances and angles, I hope you enjoy the shifts that occur in the image through the innumerable perpendicular and diagonal lines that have been individually divided and painted. I want you to look at the threads that have not yet been woven and imagine a textile that only you can see.


Through an 織Scopic way of seeing, I hope you are able to find enjoyment in both work and space alike.






*In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection, we would appreciate your cooperation for the following precautions.

・All visitors are asked to wear masks.
・Please refrain from visiting if you have symptoms such as colds or fever.
・If the inside of the gallery is crowded, you may have to wait at the entrance.


 


*For those who do not come because of distance.
 If you have any questions about works, please feel free to contact us.

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織(Ori)Scopic | Aya Kawato solo exhibition

2021年 6月19日(土) ~ 7月17日(土) (日・月・祝休廊)

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