Wednesday 23 May 2012

Katagami style

The other day I ventured out into the rain to go and see a wonderful exhibition held at the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum in Maranouchi. It was an exhibition that focused on the influence of Japanese katagami (paper stencils used for dyeing fabric) on Western art of the late 19th century. 

It was wonderful to see the traditional stencils in the flesh, so laboriously cut out in beautifully intricate patterns, yet also to see the western fabrics influenced by these designs. Companies such as William Morris and Liberty took the traditional designs and incorporated them into a western aesthetic to create something new. There were some amazingly preserved pieces, including wallpaper, fabric and carpet designs, as well as pottery and home wares.

You can learn more on the website here.












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