Re:birth – Debut Exhibition of Ruri Mitsuo

Foreward

The “Utsutsu ni Kimono” series is a body of work that explores the transformation of vintage kimonos, abandoned or sold and have lost their wearable value, into new forms of kimono through the application of dyeing techniques. As a symbol of the contradictions surrounding modern kimonos, this series transforms kimonos into innovative objects to be appreciated for their beauty, while respecting the culture and traditions surrounding them. By reflecting on and refining the memories embedded in these vintage kimonos, the series transcends the objective concept of kimono as mere clothing, reimagining them as works of art.

The “Kyoka” series addresses the inherent weakness of fabric—its inability to stand on its own—by integrating it with other materials to create three-dimensional dyed objects. While dyeing fabric is at the core of this practice, simply adding color to fabric does not complete the work; instead, essential processes like sewing and bonding are required. Exploring the final form of the work often involves tracing back through this creative process. By combining different materials, these works are established as “objects” while preserving the essential colors achieved through dyeing. For this series, plain fabrics from vintage kimonos used in the “Utsutsu ni Kimono” series serve as the primary material. The goal is to create radiant, otherworldly dyeing crystals that shimmer like kaleidoscopic visions, achieved through layers of color and patterns reflecting off acrylic surfaces.

Regarding both the “Utsutsu ni Kimono” and “Kyoka” series, my love for kimono and dyeing is the driving force behind my work. It is with respect and reverence for the traditions and innovations that have endured to the present day that I strive to expand the possibilities of kimono and dyeing in unprecedented forms and methods. My goal is to boldly create works that connect these traditions to a new era in tangible ways, continuing to push boundaries without hesitation.

Ruri Mitsuo

RURI MITSUO – Re:birth

I’ve always been fascinated with artists who can change the way we think about a certain material, who push the boundaries of a certain medium or technique into heights never seen before. It is these artists who will stand the tests of time for helping us perceive and understand the materiality of something so seemingly familiar into vistas fresh and new. One such artist is the youthful Ruri Mitsuo (b. 1992– ).

The artist has long been enchanted by the beauty of old fabrics, in particular the allure of kimonos from the past. Incredibly, these beautiful silk or linen tapestries of our forefathers have lost value and been forgotten in today’s Japan, and understandably so – times have changed, and the modern Japanese may not have a single kimono in their closet. Mitsuo finds such relics of the past and imbues them with new patterns and colours, breathing a vivid new life energy into the fabrics of old. The kimono metamorphosizes into a new kind of object that is not meant to be worn, but to be appreciated for what they poignantly embody – a canvas that accentuates and heightens the beauty of Mitsuo’s almost audacious sense of colour and design.

Mitsuo has also discovered new horizons through the combining of textiles with multimedia, in particular dyed fabric that are entrapped within clear acrylic blocks. Little is it known that textiles are even more vibrant when flowing in water. Such moments are oft unseen. Yet Mitsuo captures this fleeting beauty into something eternal, stopping the flow of not only fabric, but of time and space itself. Mitsuo focuses on these ephemerally absolute moments of beauty, elevating 2-dimensional textile sheets into the 3rd dimension. Mitsuo’s spirited pursuit of changing how we think about textiles in the modern day and age is admirable, and her debut exhibition at Kanata captures the boundless potential of a bright new artist.

Wahei Aoyama

Founder

A Lighthouse called Kanata