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Press Release - Wednesday, September 19, 2007
The Art of Wrapping: furoshiki textiles from Japan
James Green Gallery of World Art, Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
9 October 2007 to 31 August 2008
Furoshiki are decorative textiles used in Japan, as well as other cultures, for wrapping and carrying both everyday objects and special ceremonial gifts. This new display at Brighton Museum demonstrates the range of styles and uses of furoshiki over four centuries, brought up-to-date with cloths made from recycled plastic bottles.
Furoshiki are part of Japan’s unique custom of gift-wrapping. The appearance of a cloth-wrapped object may convey vital clues as to the occasion and even the season. Farmers and gardeners, for example, use furoshiki on a daily basis but many cloths are made for auspicious occasions or purchased as souvenirs to commemorate a particular visit, event or season.
The wide variety of examples on display include a 19th century cloth made from a hand-painted banner; furoshiki which appeal to children with images of Snoopy; designs using symbols of good fortune and happiness; and a brand new form produced with the words of a song raised in Braille.
Although they have been in use for many centuries, today there is a resurgence of interest in the design, production and use of furoshiki in Japan. New examples range from preserving traditional symbolic images for wedding gifts to designs showing images of endangered animals. In order to illustrate Japan’s commitment to tackling environmental concerns about the increasing amount of waste packaging and plastic bags, furoshiki made from fibre using recycled bottles are being given by the government as presents to foreign dignitaries who visit their country.
Amongst the contemporary examples are featured two furoshiki especially commissioned from Hiroyuki Shindo, one of Japan's foremost textile artists, whose work also features in the exhibition Indigo: A Blue to Dye For, currently at Brighton and Hove Museums.
The use of furoshiki strikes a chord with current concerns about environmental issues around packaging. Both older textiles and newer ones demonstrate not only the use of recycled materials, but are an example of re-using both packaging and carriers, especially as they can be used for multiple purposes. The Embassy of Japan has provided two eco-furoshiki for the museum collections; with the textiles came an information leaflet and drawings showing how to wrap with furoshiki.
The display has been prepared by guest curator Michele Walker. She collected the textiles on display on behalf of Brighton & Hove Museums during visits to Japan over the last two years. She made purchases from makers, dealers, galleries, department stores and local shops, to provide an overview of historical and contemporary, everyday and special occasion furoshiki.
The Art of Wrapping continues until 31 August 2008. Admission is free.
Ends
Issued 19 September 2007
Information for editors
Image caption: Kiyoko Oi carrying furoshiki. Photo credit Michele Walker.
Kiyoko Oi made the furoshiki shown. She lives on Sado Island, Japan, and is a founder member of Kodo, a traditional Japanese drumming group.
Guest curator Michele Walker is a Brighton-based textile artist. A new show of her work Stitching for Survival at the University of Brighton Gallery (29 September-31 October 2007), draws inspiration from historical Japanese sashiko (stitched) textiles.
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
Entrance in Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton BN1 1EE
01273 290900
www.virtualmuseum.info
Open Tuesday 10am-7pm, Wednesday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 2-5pm
Closed Monday (except public holidays 10am-5pm); 23-26 December, 31 December, 1 January
Free admission
Wheelchair accessible, wheelchairs available, accessible toilet, baby changing facilities, passenger lift
Gift shop, cafe
Press enquiries:
Martin Ellis, Marketing and Audience Development 01273 292817museums.marketing@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Telephone (01273) 290900 Fax (01273) 292871
Royal Pavilion, Libraries and Museums, Brighton & Hove City Council BN1 1EE
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