Introduction to the world of Bashofu cloth
The special exhibition Bashofu: Living National Treasure Toshiko Taira and the Handcrafts in Kijoka will be held at the Okura Shukokan or Okura Museum of Art in Toranomon, Tokyo, from Tuesday 7 June to Sunday 31 July 2022.
Bashofu cloth is a typical Okinawan textile made from the natural fibres of the plantain, which is found mainly in the subtropical zone.
The traditional technique of bashofu nearly disappeared after World War II, but it was Toshiko Taira who revived it and brought it into the modern age, and in 2000 she was awarded the title of Living National Treasure for her achievements.
She has esablished a workshop in Kijoka, a small village in the northern part of Okinawa main island, and has been spinning the handiwork of bashofu cloth with her friends, known as Dusibi.
While maintaining traditional methods of production, the design of Kijoka's bashofu cloth have evolved in a rich variety. There's a wide range of colours and variations of kasuri splashed patterns, from simple and lovely patterns to complex long and narrow kasuri splashed patterns and sophisticated and elegant designs.
The special exhibition brings together some 70 pieces of work produced by Toshiko Taira and her friends from the post-war period to the present. The exhibition introduces the world of bashofu cloth, with its translucent texture, strong colours unique to Okinawa and a variety of kasuri splashed patterns.
Colourful bashofu, the challenge of Kijoka
The first of the two chapters introduces the colourful bashofu cloth. During the Ryuku Dynasty, red and yellow bashofu cloth was used for royal costumes. Originally, Kijoka's bashofu were based on colours such as green, indigo and brown, but since the late Showa period (around 1960-1989), colourful Nigashi Bashofu have been woven, mainly using natural dyes from Okinwa.
The exhibition will feature kimonos and kireji in vivid colours, incorporating techniques such as ro-ori, hana-ori and jibata-ori which is becoming a lost art.
The world of kasuri
Chapter 2, on the other hand, presents an exhibition of Kijoka's bashofu cloth and Toshiko Taira's unique world of kasuri patterns. She was a bold development of the standard pattern that had been handed down since kasuri weaving began in Kijoka in the late Meiji period.
In this chapter, we can also see kasuri patterns that combine traditional patterns or aredevised from familiar insect and plant motifs.
Exhibition overview
Special Exhibition "Bashofu: Living National Treasure Toshiko Taira and Handicrafts in Kijoka"
Dates: 7 June (Tue) - 31 July (Sun), 2022 (exhibition will change during the period)
*First chapter: 7 June (Tue) - 3 July (Sun) / Second chapter: 5 July (Tue) - 31 July (Sun)
Venue: Okura Museum of Art (Okura Shukokan) 1F, 2F Exhibition Room, B1F (DVD screening)
Address: 2-10-3 Toranomon, Minato Ward, Tokyo (in front of The Okura Tokyo)
Opening hours: 10AM - 5PM (entry by 4:30PM)
Closed: Mondays (or the following Tuesday if the Monday is a public holiday)
Admission: ¥1,300 for adults, ¥1,000 for university and high school studentes, free for junior high school students and under.
*200 yen discount for visitors in kimono during the exhibition period (discount cannot be used in combination with other discounts).
*200 yen discount for repeat visitors during the same exhibition period (previous visit ticket required).
*Groups of 20 or more receive a 100 yen discount.
*Free of charge for visitors with a disability certificate or A-bomb survivor certificate and one accompanying person.
Inquiry
Phone: +81-3-5575-5711
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