Here is the last part in my series of reports from the 13th Tokyo International Great Quilt Show 2014.
Of the many excellent exhibitions outside the contest, one features the work of Shizuko Kuroha. She is famous for seeing the potential in Japanese indigo, and creates fantastic quilts with depth, glow, sheen and lustre, in spite of using mainly blue indigo, with a sprinkling of black, white, brown or red.
In this exhibition Japanese weaving technique was also shown:
The white tread is painstakingly tied, dyed, tied and dyed resulting in a much controlled space dye.
The posters that NHK produce are excellent - oh, how I wish I could read Japanese easily!!! The illustrations help a lot, though.
They also had a TV screen with a film showing the different steps in dying, weaving and finally quilting.
Ms Kuroha is often seen demonstrating her work; of course she is at the show every day and always encourages the crowd that gather around her table. Here is a
link if you want to read more about her.
Moomin
Apart from the Swedish wool embroidery exhibition, NHK are celebrating another part of Northern Europe, Finland, and the wonderful world of
Moomin. Tove Jansson, who wrote these children's stories was born 100 years ago. The illustrations in her books have charmed both children and adults the world over. One who has been spellbound by the charm is the Japanese quilter Yoko Saito. You might well know that she is famous for her taupe quilts.
Together with her students and followers, she has made 50! quilts from the illustrations in the books.
Yoko Saito made these dolls.
As well as this winter landscape.
Her quilt was used for the official poster of the show, and then there is the 5m!!! long quilt seen on
Tanya's blog. (I had no chance to take a picture of the quilt).
Here are some of the other quilt copies, made by Ms Saito's students:
Sachiko Tanenaka
Noriko Mukai
小出保子
Aren't they just great?
NHK's carpenter contributed with the Moomin House.
Quilts made by 60 of Japans top quilters
There is such a variety of quilt styles in Japan. Many prefer a traditional style and have excelled in making meticulous copies of Baltimore Album quilts, scrappy quilts from reproduction 30s fabric or fabulously rich crazy quilts. Others have devoted their efforts to Wa quilts, Mola, Hawaiian. Year, by year, however, we see more individuality and thinking outside the box.
Here are some examples from the top quilters of Japan.
Wonderful Small Flowers of Japan by Fumiko Miura
Inspired by Japanese embroidery, wouldn't you say?
Detail from
Needleworks of the 1920s by Sanae Kono
Peaceful Scenery in Spring Mist by Toshie Yamagata
This pale indigo quilt shone like silver!
Bubbles and Vortexes by Keiko Takahashi
She is famous for her colourful quilts. The sparkle in these come from the metallic thread.
Hearts are Linked by Sachiko Yoshida
There is a fantastic collection of antique kimono silk in this quilt. I can't imagine how large Ms Yoshida's stash is or where she has found some of the very unusual colours like lime green or aqua.
The dots are all joined with chain stitches. The title refers to how the hearts of the people of Fukushima are joined, although many, many residents are still living far from their home towns.
A Flight by Fumiko Nakayama, the Queen of Mola.
Flowers in a Red Room by Keiko Miyauchi, the Queen of appliqué.
Detail from The Hidden Lake by Hiroko Koike
Spring Midnight by Yoko Sekita
Have you ever seen the Japanese
Hina dolls for Girls' Day? They sit formally on tiers. During the day, that is. At midnight the all get up to party!!!
Stories of Ties by Machiko Miyatani
At a Café - my 'Ecole de Paris' - by Yoshiko Kuriha
Maybe at a cafe in Monmartre you would see these Amedeo Modigliani models?
With this quilt I end my report on the 13th Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival.
