exhibitions The Kimono in Print: 300 Years of Japanese Design February 6 – May 2, 2021
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he Kimono in Print: 300 Years of Japanese Design is the first show devoted to examining the kimono as a major source of inspiration and experimentation in Japanese print culture, from the Edo period (1603–1868) to the Meiji period (1868–1912). This dialogue between print and kimono design is illustrated by approximately 70 Japanese prints, as well as a selection of illustrated woodblock printed books and paintings, primarily drawn from the Museum’s 3,000 Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints gifted in 1901 from John Chandler Bancroft (1835–1901) Featured in The Kimono in Print is a one-of-a-kind contemporary wedding kimono by Chiso, the important 465-year-old, Kyotobased kimono house. The Worcester Wedding Kimono is the first ever kimono commissioned as an artwork for an art museum. Celebrating the 120th anniversary of WAM’s transformative acquisition of the Bancroft collection, the contemporary wedding kimono reflects the Museum’s vision for Japanese art in the 21st century. Print artists from 17th- to 20th-century Japan documented everevolving trends in fashion, popularized certain styles of dress, and even designed kimonos. The works begin with early prints from the late 17th century, when a more complex and sophisticated attitude toward clothing first appeared, as seen in the lavish prints of the floating world’s celebrity kabuki actors and courtesans. Modern design books and prints from the early 20th century, inspired by or made for kimono, demonstrate how the boundaries between print and textile fashion and design became more fluid. The commission of a kimono as an artwork, rather than for a specific client or occasion, gave Chiso and its designer significant creative space to give form to their outlook regarding the present and future art of the kimono. Inspired by the New England foliage and Worcester’s famed seven hills, Chiso’s Senior Designer Mr. Imai Atsuhiro incorporated the iconic maple leaf throughout the kimono design, as well as seven textile techniques, ranging from newly developed to endangered ones. Documentary photographs of the process are included in the exhibition. The Worcester Wedding Kimono reveals in stunning detail Chiso’s continuing commitment and aspiration to Japanese beauty and steadfast dedication to innovation, design, and creativity—in the present and for the future.
The exhibition is accompanied by a catalog edited by guest curator Vivian Li, with contributions by Nagasaki Iwao, Ellis Tinios, Matsuba Ryōko, Fujita Kayoko, and Stephanie Su. Published by Hotei Publishing, in association with the Worcester Art Museum, the catalog is available for purchase for $49. To purchase, please call 508.793.4354. This exhibition is generously supported by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation. Early research for this project was made possible by the Japan Foundation and the Institute for Museum and Library Services.
Kimono Couture: The Beauty of Chiso A Virtual Exhibition Begins on November 28 at worcesterart.org We are honored to partner with Chiso, the distinguished Kyotobased kimono house, on their first ever virtual exhibition of historic and contemporary kimonos from their collection, as an accompaniment to The Kimono in Print: 300 Years of Japanese Design. Kimono Couture highlights the history and exquisite artistry of the prestigious 465-year-old garment maker through the presentation of nine kimonos. In addition, a selection of related works—paintings, kimono fragments, and woodblockprinted books—from the Chiso art collection reflects the creative collaborations between Chiso and several celebrated Japanese artists since the late 19th century. The exhibition shows Chiso’s profound championing of the rigorous artistic traditions of Japanese kimono-making, while highlighting the company’s gift for beauty and versatility. Kimono Couture: The Beauty of Chiso is accompanied by a catalog, authored by the exhibition guest curators, Vivian Li and Christine Starkman, with contributions by Riyo Kikuchi and Yukio Lippit. Published by D Giles Limited, London, in association with the Worcester Art Museum, the catalog is available for purchase in the Museum Shop for $34.95. For phone orders, please call the Shop at 508.793.4354. Kimono Couture: The Beauty of Chiso is organized by the Worcester Art Museum in partnership with Chiso, the revered 465-year-old kimono design and production house based in Kyoto, Japan. Support is provided by the Fletcher Foundation and Michie Family Curatorial Fund. Research for this project was made possible by the Japan-United States Friendship Commission and the Northeast Asia Council of the Association for Asian Studies. Additional support is provided by Sandy Hubbard and Thomas J. Logan and Emily and James Holdstein. The exhibition is sponsored by Cornerstone Bank and Imperial Distributors, Inc.
Media Partner: Above: Chiso Co., Ltd., Uchikake with Clouds and Pine Trees Design, Made for Nishimura Tokuko, the fourteenth Madame Nishimura, 1938, embroidery on woven silk. Opposite page: Kobayashi Kiyochika, The Tenmei Era, 1896, woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper, with mica (kirazuri), Harriet B. Bancroft Fund, 1993.28
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