I apologise for the lack of updates to my blog.
For ease and time saving, I have moved to Instagram.
Please check there for the latest information.
On the other hand, I would like to use the Blog as a place to keep a record.
Thank you for your continued support as always.
Mayuko Fujii Instagram： ＠irotonuno
I was so delighted to realise that “This technique allows me to write words on Washi and make it into paper threads and weave them in. And, we can never read it again”.
From there, I began to explore how the unreadable words and the texture of the cloth could be woven together.
I named the cloth “Shifu”.
Kimono textile and Shifu, are my two fundamental works.
I started my career with the two works around at the same time, but while I have worked on Kimono textile tirelessly, my journey with Shifu has been intermittent, and this will be the first opportunity to show my Shifu works all together.
—
Gallery SU
February27(Sat) – March14 (Sun), 2021
12:00-19:00
Closed: March2 (Tue) and 9 (Tue)
February27(Sat) – March14 (Sun), 2021
12:00-19:00
Closed: March2 (Tue) and 9 (Tue)
Shifu is a cloth made by tearing Japanese washi paper on which words are written in ink, making it into thread, and weaving it together with silk thread.
The words that remain as traces on the cloth can no longer be read as letters, but are freed from meaning.
Mayuko Fujii says, “I think there is a truth that dwells in unreadableness.
The exhibition will feature 17 shifu that secretly contain sentences describing what she felt in each season. I hope shifu will touch your heart.
—
The text is from Gallery SU.
Of the six gardenias, each about 50 cm tall, that I planted in my garden a few years ago for dye, I was able to harvest only three.
I guess it is not quite right for cold climate.
There were many sweet-smelling white flowers, but never thought I could harvest only this much.
I will keep an eye on the gardenias and hope that they grow big enough to adapt to the cold weather.
You can check my interviewed article in the serial “Morino Johobin” in members-only web magazine “Shawood Club” which is for people who enjoy wooden houses and living with wood.
9, August, 2020 @atelier of Mayuko Fujii at Hokuto-shi, Yamanashi Prefecture
Information of the Workshop
Watercolorartist: Kazuyo IMAI, Sponsored by Mayuko FUJII
We drew flowers and plants in a hot summer day.
I had a discussion with Kazuyo about whether we should go ahead with the workshop or not until the last minute, but we decided to do it with taking utmost precautious measures.
Ultimately, what pushed my back was my desire to make time to touch flowers and plants, to share the joy and pleasure of painting, and to feed the senses because of the current situation.
It was a fruitful experience for me as well, as I saw participants concentrate on their drawings and paintings, and Kazuyo’s dedication to share the attractiveness of sketch and water colour painting by drawing close to the sensibility of each one of participants. Thank you so much for that.
Both the morning and afternoon sketches happened to include adults and children who were not parents and children (impressively all ladies), which was a bit of a kick for both of them, I think.
I hope we can make time to share our senses again sometime.
“Kinutauchi”
The finishing strokes for the woven kimono textile.
Place the flatly wound piece of kimono textile on a stone board and hit it evenly with a mallet to gloss silk and create mild texture.
Herbarium and textile: Mayuko Fujii
Material: Silk
Dye: Yulan magnolia
Ms. Kazuyo Imai is a watercolour painter, who draws flowers, insects, and birds in delicate touch with beautiful colours. She spends three months in Denmark for creating her works every summer.
I have been wishing to have her workshop for several years , but unfortunately we could not make it since she was not here in summer.
However, since she is here in Japan this summer, I am pleased to announce that we are going to have the long-awaited workshop.
Aside from the paintings that you see at her exhibitions, she cherishes sketches that she makes in daily-life.
She says that the repetition of daily sketch is the basis of her work. Those sketches are fabulous as themselves and I would like to take this opportunity to learn a part of the essential processes in painting.
In this workshop, first we will sketch using pencils mainly to capture the figure of plants and flowers in lines (observation) and then we sketch & colour it using watercolours. using the sense and image you have got when drawing them with pencil. We will have two sessions, what Kazuyo calls “morning sketch” and “afternoon sketch”. (the light and plants may look slightly different but the both sessions are basically the same)
There is something in common between the watercolour painting which comprises water and paint, and the dyeing that extracts plant dye into water.
As I strive “to extract clear colour” in plant dyeing, the lucidity in her paintings is appealing to my heart.
For this time, I will be there to help organize the space & surroundings for safe, comfortable and rich time.
I will look forward to your participation in good health.
Mayuko Fujii,
Date & Time:Sunday, 9, August, 2020
morning sketch 10:00-12:30 (opens at 9:45)
afternoon sketch 14:00-16:30 (opens at 13:45)
Venue: Mayuko Fujii’s atelier (Hokuto-shi, Yamanashi Prefecture. 10 min walk from Kobuchizawa Station)
Capacity: 5 people respectively (subject to primary school students and above)
Participation Fee: JPY 3,000
Things required to bring along: Apron, Hat, Water bottle.
Please bring along any flowers and plants that you wish to draw if any.
I would like to seek your cooperation to wear a mask during the workshop.
For Inquiries and Application: Please send your message using the form found in the “contact” here in my website.
May I seek your understanding to make sure that you are in good health condition to travel and to participate the workshop.
Depending on the situation, the schedule may be unavoidably changed.
The first step of my work.
To meet plants and receive.
I heard that branches of Yulan magnolia at my friend’s house were going to be lopped off in near future.
I obtained them before it happened.
I am well used to the pole-type pruning shears which I have been using for about 20 years and they fit to my hand
.
Sash clip Naho Kamada
Here is to propose how to enjoy Fukusa not just as one of the tools for tea ceremony but as a part of art, and as to complement the main item.
