This embroidery piece was produced, paired with a vase called “Imari” made in the 1700’s Japan, which has been in the permanent collection of Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Berlin. My interest rested on the stark contrast between its luxurious surface and the darkness latent within. Why many rulers in history made things with such extravagant decorations? The more opulence the surfaces display, the starker the darkness underneath; probably the rulers tried to exhibit how powerful they were while bearing the deep fear of losing their power. I tried to extract a kind of organs from the darkness of the vase to highlight the internal contradiction hidden under the gorgeously embroidered surface.
Großer Imari, 1700’s Edo
2016
Embroidery on cloth, wooden frame, collaboration with the Japanese-Imari vase in 1700’s
H.190 x W.55 x D.50 cm
Exhibited at
2016 Schnittmengen, Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Berlin, Germany
2023 Artists, Collectors, Scholars Women’s Contributions to the Japanese Art Collection, Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Berlin, Germany
Collection
Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Berlin, Germany