Immerse yourself in the beauty of Tsubo VI: White Tsubo with Yellow Background. Learn more and request a quote at Verne Gallery.
Keisuke Serizawa (1895 − 1984) Japanese textile designer. In 1956, he was designated as a Living National Treasure for his katazome stenc...
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Tsubo X: Blue Tsubo with Figure. Learn more and request a quote at Verne Gallery.
Designated in 1956 as a 'Living National Treasure' by the Japanese government, textile artist Serizawa Keisuke (1895-1984) had a series of transforming experiences that led him to realize the fullest extent of his vision. For example, the seismic change he felt upon seeing Okinawan bingata stencil-dyed textiles registered at every stage of his subsequent career.
Explore Library Fashionista's 2820 photos on Flickr!
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Tsubo III: Tsubo with Crane. Learn more and request a quote at Verne Gallery.
Serizawa Keisuke: Illustrated Don Quixote (Ehon Donkihôte), Shôwa period, published in 1936 - Harvard Art Museum
Serizawa, Pattern Imitating Glaze Dripping Down the Side of a Jar, 1961. Kimono, stencil-dyed banana-bark cloth, 61 x 50 inches Another of the exciting shows I saw while on my recent trip to NYC was a survey of the textile works of Serizawa Keisuke (1895-1984) at Japan Society, a Japanese designer who took his inspiration from the traditional techniques of stencil dyeing. This kimono was stunning in its color harmonies and surprising shapes. There were others just as dramatically beautiful. Some of the most startling designs were on Noren, or entrance curtains, their shapes strong and simple. Kimono shaped comforter, Edo period, 19th century, indigo dyeing, cotton After seeing the show, I became interested in earlier stencil dyeing, and found this example; I can hardly say anything but "wow". The grand sweep of shapes, flat against ropey forms, create a compelling visual energy. Serizawa, Japanese Syllables, 1960s, stencil dyed raw silk, 26 x 14 inches The works by Serizawa using Japanese syllables were balanced in the interesting place between language and design. Because we can't read the text, it becomes pure art in the dance of color and shape; but we also know that it is language, even if hidden from us, so carries narrative weight. Kazimir Malevich, Fabric Ornament, 1919, watercolor on paper,14 x 10 inches Spurred on by the show at Japan Society, and by a conversation with Sandy Chilewich at her studio, I began to think about the intersection of fine art and design in the 20th century. There's a rich history of painters working with textiles; there is also a increasingly non-existent gap between the fine art and design worlds (see the Museum of Arts and Design). In the early 20th century, the utopian ideals of the Russian constructivists, such as Malevich and Popova, led them to design everyday items: fabrics and ceramics and books. Both these artists are primarily known as painters; their works have inspired several of my textile pieces. Liubov Popova, Embroidered Book Cover, ca, 1923-24, silk thread on grosgrain, 18 x 12" Sonia Delaunay, Design, ca. 1930 Sonia Delaunay is a painter who worked intensively in the design world, becoming very influential in abstract design. Abstraction has become so embedded in the way we see the world, in our sense of pattern and decoration, that we forget how very recent it is. Delaunay brought an inventive and lively sense of color, shape and line to her work. Chilewich, details of two tabletop runners, Crochet and Dots, pressed vinyl Not only is there a wonderful range of pattern in textile design (a good source of information is The Textile Blog, which covers the history of textiles), there's also been expansion in the idea of what a textile is. I remember seeing a great show of contemporary textiles from Japan at MOMA called "Structure and Surface" (the website is pretty poor, being from 1998). New materials were being used, such as polyester, and steel: quite amazing. A contemporary company, Chilewich, is weaving fabric using vinyl; they also press vinyl into contemporary forms, using a technique that we all remember from plastic doilies. The richly inventive traditions, continuing today, of textile design are inspiring. As a painter, I sometimes feel that my art is too rarified, too much apart from life. My hooked rugs, being one of a kind pieces, are closer to painting than to repeatable design. That there are so many terrific artists, bringing us beautiful things for daily use, makes me happy. UPDATE, November 16: In an email correspondence with a friend, I realized that my link to the Museum of Arts and Design was not truly germane to the discussion. A more appropriate collection to look at is the Architecture and Design department at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC.
Designated in 1956 as a 'Living National Treasure' by the Japanese government, textile artist Serizawa Keisuke (1895-1984) had a series of transforming experiences that led him to realize the fullest extent of his vision. For example, the seismic change he felt upon seeing Okinawan bingata stencil-dyed textiles registered at every stage of his subsequent career.
Serizawa, Keisuke: Calendar May 1977 - Asian Collection Internet Auction
世界中からさまざまな背景を持つアーティストが集まり、日々新たなアートを発信する街・ニューヨーク。「NY＄99アートマーケット」では、そんなニューヨークを拠点とするアーティストの作品を99ドルで販売する。約400点の中から […]
Keisuke Serizawa (1895 − 1984) Japanese textile designer. In 1956, he was designated as a Living National Treasure ...
Designated in 1956 as a 'Living National Treasure' by the Japanese government, textile artist Serizawa Keisuke (1895-1984) had a series of transforming experiences that led him to realize the fullest extent of his vision. For example, the seismic change he felt upon seeing Okinawan bingata stencil-dyed textiles registered at every stage of his subsequent career.
Serizawa, Keisuke: July - Asian Collection Internet Auction
芹沢銈介といえば、 日本古来の型染めと琉球の紅型（びんがた）染めの研究で有名ですが 今回の企画展は、「はがき絵」。 個人的にかいた私信と芹沢さん...
芹沢銈介による図案のJALのマッチ。 1960年代のもの。 骨董市にて。
Serizawa: Master of Japanese Textile Design Japan Society Gallery Through January 17, 2010 Obi (Sash) Length, Scenes in Okinawa, stencil-dyed crepe silk Last Friday my wife Francesca, who weaves and knits, and I, who do neither, took in this exhibit at Japan Society. Both of us marveled at the creations of Serizawa Keisuke (1895-1984). They made it readily apparent why he was deemed a "Living National Treasure" during his lifetime. Noren (Entrance Curtain), Knots in the form of the Chinese character Kotobuki (long life), stencil-dyed cotton Serizawa was a master of stencil-dying. His works of art, based on craft techniques, covered a broad range of media, such as screens, kimonos, book covers, magazine designs, and entrance curtains. He also utilized a wide variety of materials: cotton, silk, hemp, and other fibers, all decorated with beautiful natural dyes. Chinese character hana (flower), stencil-dyed tsumugi-weave silk The above images are from scans I made of the three postcards that are on sale. A fully illustrated catalog can be ordered online or purchased at Japan Society. But Serizawa's creations deserve to be seen and appreciated in person, if at all possible. For further information and gallery hours, click here.
