Welcome to Takao Momiyama’s solo exhibition “Patch-up Sashiko”! In this body of work, Momiyama has shifted from design to freer work with a focus on the Japanese sewing technique “Sashiko”. The concept of “Mottanai” corresponding roughly to “Waste not, want not” is his main theme, incorporating thoughts about the slow sewing process, the life of the fabrics, patching and repairing and letting it take the time required. His encounter with “Boro” fabrics (rags) mended with “Sashiko” opened up new ways of handling materials and a new creative process for Momiyama. He tries to give new life to the worn fabrics. Takao Momiyama was born in Japan, educated at Konstfack, Textile and works as an artist outside Simrishamn. Disseminating knowledge through exhibitions and workshops has become more and more important for him.

“It’s about time; a relationship to the materials I work with emerges. There is a story within the material and a new one is created. Sewing by hand is a slow process. I give the work time, and take care of the time stored in the material. New time is created.

Each meeting with every little piece of cloth forces me to think about what has been. Each shade of blue from the slow dyeing process with indigo describes time that has passed. My hard-working mother on the rice field, in indigo-coloured Ikat-patterned work clothes. We are reunited in the memory of blue.

My work, which is to reuse and repair, increases the lifespan of the material. The creative process manifests the idea and is the story that I pass on to the next generation.”

OCCUPATION?
Textile artist

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TEXTILE FIBER/TECHNIQUE?
Old indigo-dyed cotton fabrics

WHAT IS YOUR MOST VIVID TEXTILE MEMORY?
When I saw Boro rag textiles for the first time and I bought a few at a flea market in Tokyo at the end of the 90’s.

FIND OUT MORE
https://www.momiyama.com/