Serizawa: Master of Japanese Textile Design

by Joe Earle (Editor), Kim Brandt (Contributor), Matthew Fraleigh (Contributor)

This book documents and exhibition of contemporary Japanese artists who are active at the cutting edge of the global fiber-art movement, transforming fabrics into sculptures, pictures, emulations of nature, or even abstract meditations on memory and identity. The materials they use range from silk, cotton, recycled cocoons, antique paper scraps, jute, and hemp to stainless-steel wire and synthetic fiber. Their methods are sometimes traditional, but can also incorporate the latest weaving and dyeing technology, often with the goal of expressing an environmentally conscious green ethic.

The thirty artists, including both established figures and newcomers, were selected for Fiber Futures: Japan's Textile Pioneers, an exhibition at New York's Japan Society Gallery. Introductory essays by Hiroko Watanabe, President of International Textile Network, and Gallery Director Joe Earle provide the context for these innovative, beautiful, and sometimes challenging works of art. The catalogue section features artist statements, informative commentary, and lavish photography, much of it commissioned especially by Japan Society.

Originally conceived in 2007, Fiber Futures came to fruition after the devastating natural disasters that struck Japan on March 11, 2011, events which give the exhibition and its catalogue added significance. Fiber Futures not only reflects the fecundity of Japanese artistic tradition, but also speaks to the resilience and ingenuity of the Japanese people and their ability to repurpose the past in order to better shape the future.

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Azabu · Rating 3 out of 5]

“[In] response to the shifting values of the late 20th century, fiber art rapidly achieved the status of an innovative global art form”
Fiber Art has evolved from tapestry weaving into a multi-media movement led by a dedicated group of Japanese artists. In September 2011 the Japan Society Gallery in New York celebrated 30 of these modern masters with a major exhibition entitled “Fiber Futures.” This four-color catalogue of the exhibit captures the scope, if not the massiveness, of the works on display composed of materials ranging from thread and yarn to stainless steel, jute and wood. Japan Society Vice-President and gallery director Joe Earle (Serizawa: Master of Textile Design) co-curated the show with Tama Art University professor emerita, Hiroko Watanabe. A prize-winning artist and current president of International Textile Network Japan , Watanabe’s weaving “Red Pulse” makes a bold statement. Alphabetically presented, from Machiko Agano’s inkjet-printed mirror sheet structures to the wall construction of Atsuko Yoshioka , the book devotes a spread to each piece including artist biography. While Misao Tsubaki’s wall-hanging “Work No. 81” borrows from the quilting tradition, room-size installations by Naoko Serino (“Generating-8” [74]) are more typical of the genre. Jun-ichi Arai (“Flame Resistant shop curtain”) , a sixth generation weaver and movement leader, introduces the world of fashion to the mix as a textile maker for designers such as Issey Miyake . Earle and Watanabe include a helpful list of Suggested Reading at the back of the book. Your mind will catch on fire from the smoking images in the book.

[Cyndi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't realize this is an exhibition catalog. Interesting artwork.