Exhibition - Junichi Arai Textile Anthology 「新井淳一經緯世界」藝術展

                              

Junichi Arai, a Japanese master of the textile design, creating unprecedented cloths.  In the 70s - 80s he collaborated with renowned fashion designers, such as Issey Miyake and Rei Kawakubo to integrate innovative fabrics into fashion design.  The recent textile exhibition in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University,  demonstrates the glamorous design work by Junichi Arai.

 The exhibition opened on Dec 15, 2017 until Jan 26, 2018

Exhibition Venue 1,  Innovation Gallery

Exhibition Venue 2, The Fashion Gallery

Opening hours 10:00 - 19:00 (Mon - Sun)

I am honoured to be invited in the opening ceremony and involved in the art installation as well my piece of works included in the exhibition among others.

新井淳一，日本紡織大師，一生致力於織物的創新設計，七、八十年代與著名時裝設計師三宅一生、川久保玲等合作，將創新布料融入服裝設計中，多元化織物將新材料注入時尚，帶動新風格。日前在香港理工大學開幕的「新井淳一經緯世界」展出其獨特創新的紡織設計作品，並回顧他的跨世紀設計歷程。我有幸參與在理工大學有關新井淳一大師的設計技巧交流、展覽藝術裝置及作品展示。

展覽日期： 10:00 - 19:00  2017/12/15 - 2018/01/26  (星期一至星期日）

地點 ：香港理工大學  創新館 & 服裝館

 

The "Big Blue Vortex" -  an installation work of twisted textile with a holy stone which reflects energy is outside the Innovation Gallery.

Junichi Arai, he called himself "textile creator", but is hailed as "post-industrial expert" and "genius of Japanese fabric industry".

自稱為「紡織創造者」的新井淳一，被譽為「後工業時代專家」和「日本織物界奇才。

On the opening day my work of nuno felt panel with shibori dye was floating in the entrance.

開幕日我的羊毛混纖作品飄揚會場

Exhibition opening with the Japanese Taiko drumming

日本太鼓開幕

Speech by honorable Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada

和田良子致開幕詞

 

Opening ceremony.......

儀式開始，會場巡禮...... 以下是我攝下的部分展品，若有時間現場觀更清晰細致。

A tour for the exhibits........

In the entrance a kind of "pleats" - press wrinkled texture.

展廊注目的展品如冰裂紋不規則的皺摺

Exhibits of wool works, some with metalized wool.

羊毛氈展廊的部分展品表面及背面不同的布料做出「金屬化羊毛」

Metallic textiles

A large piece of digital jacquard textile done by other artists as a tribute to the master

這大型數碼提花織物是幾位藝術家的合作作品

I am among the participants who joined the program of textile surface design in the PolyU have a few pieces shown

這些是我們在理工大學學生作品

My work is nuno felted panel with wool, yarn and shibori dyed silk

我的參展作品是羊毛混纖絞纈

 

Some weaving works by NGO participants

另一團體參展織物

It's a team work for the large installation art 

這大型裝置藝術我們動員多人兩天完成

The work idea is from Mr Masanao Arai

大型裝置藝術品「蒼藍的大漩渦」策劃人新井正直先生

We took two days to finish it

I've my scarf printed with the same technique I done in the program

   

We've also done other techniques of melt-off and screen prints

我的圍巾與展品「摺皺」同一風格，因為我是在理大的交流實驗的製作

The floating nuno felt panel incorporated with natural dyed wool and yarn that my friend gave me.

展塲中我的羊毛混纖絞纈展品正是混了同色系朋友自己染上的天然紫色植物染羊毛缐

After days of preparation a show is going on......

多天的準備，完美的開幕.......

Honorable Yoshiko Iwamoto Wada

世界絞纈協會主席 和田良子女士

           How fortunate and exhilarating to be involved in the inspiring work by a Master and have my piece displayed.

有幸參與此大師展覽活動，做到晚上也是值得！

Taiwan workshop of natural printing and wool felting 臺灣教學遊

 

I was in Taiwan for a series of teaching in the last two weeks. It's a delightful trip of three sessions of natural printing and nuno felting with students from different parts of Taiwan for workshops held in Taipei and Taichung. Natural printing techniques are mainly of indigo dyes with resist or discharge effects which I learnt from master Irit Dulman.  The nuno felt technique is to make a reversible seamless tunic with textures.

Natural prints of other skills were also taught.

 

Before the official kickoff of workshop in Taichung in the tranquil village, nice setting with my samples and welcome pack of natural printed card and the wool felt printed tag.

My sincere welcome to students.......

With the indigo vat prepared by the organiser all students immersed in the atmosphere of dyeing

The ambiance of the studio is so tempting with lily pond, rice fields and birds singing......

First to do a few indigo dyed panels......

The spacious studio with everything handy....

 

pretty layout of plants on fabric....

 

After 1.5 hours of boiling they're ready to unwrap

Prints on cotton and silk are so impressed.

Prints on silk and wool are particularly bold and colorful

 

Aren't they happy with the outcome?

During the first day learning lots of panel samples were done.

They have to decide what they're going to do in the next day

Some more natural colors incorporated in the making for different effects.

 

Apart from the eucalyptus from florist, some local weeds are so pretty too.

The two species of imported eucalyptus are of different shades of orange

 

Dyed with onion skins for this effect is interesting

The onion skin dyes and some rose flowers print.

During the two days session in Taichung students made lots of prints.  Most of them are the first time to get involved and pleased with the techniques..

Back to Taipei I taught the skill of nuno felting with indigo dyed and printed yardage.

A tunic with textures and reversible is what I taught.

One side mainly with white merino wool on the top, both with textures that make two looks of one reversible garment.

 

Natural prints and dyes were done earlier,  in a day of wool laying, rubbing and fulling all done.

We're going to make an art journal with
these pretty natural printed papers...........

Binded signatures then with nuno felt cover that made with remnants from tunic project......

 

A set of natural printed tunic and art journal of same tone was done  

Student YL is so nice and we spent a day in the sea shore also to take shots of her works. 

I wrapped my wonderful teaching in Taiwan with my last stop in Taipei

with good company.

It's quite windy but we still managed to capture nice shots.

Yeliu GeoPark is amazing with rocks formation.

Yangmingshan's hot spring is famous

My two weeks in Taiwan was great with arrangements from YL, Meg and Mary.  Not only teaching but also nice time to explore the beautiful region and fancy coffee as well leisure walks in the town.

Thank you my goods friends and all the students in Taiwan made me a wonderful trip.