Extraordinary
Japanese
art
of dyeing with persimmon tannin
Exhibition at Touching Stone
Gallery June 5 - July 1,
2009
Kakishibu Art of Masamichi Terada
寺田昌道
Touching Stone Gallery is privileged to show the new work of Masamichi Terada, master kakishibu
artist and author on this traditional Japanese art of dyeing with persimmon
tannin. Kaki-shibu, meaning 'persimmon-bitter', is a natural dye
prepared from the fermented juice of unripe persimmons. Kakishibu is not for
artists seeking instant gratification. Persimmon juice must be aged for two to
five years to acquire its beautiful warm colors. Unlike other dyes such
as the more popular indigo, kakishibu not only adds colors, it actually
coats the materials with a protective film that makes the materials
water-resistant.
Kakishibu was one of the most widely used preservative and weather-proofing agents in Japan since the Heian Period
(782 – 1182 AD). Kakishibu-dyed
paper was used for everyday items from umbrellas to food containers, and even for decorating
traditional Japanese rooms, giving them quiet warm hues that become more
beautiful with age. Because of its non-toxic nature, kakishibu was also
the material of choice for treating ‘sake pouches’ (Pouches used for filtering
unrefined sake in the manufacture process). However, since the Second World War,
kakishibu has largely been supplanted by modern paints and chemicals. The ancient
art of dyeing with kakishibu appeared to be on its way to extinction when
it attracted the attention of Masamichi Terada.
Masamichi Terada (b. 1935) graduated from Kanazawa College of
Art. He started his career as a designer for Minolta Camera. One day his wife
brought home some old kakishibu-dyed sake pouches. Intrigued by the
subtle beauty of the material, Terada wanted to learn how the material was
created. He soon realized that the knowledge of kakishibu-dyeing was not
readily available. He decided to devote his life to study and preserve kakishibu-dyeing
as an art form. In 1984, he founded the Terada Product Design company
specializing in this medium. In 1995, he opened a gallery and studio in Hyogo
Prefecture and has since immersed himself in this
ancient art form. He authored two publications on kakishibu-dyeing techniques.
He taught and organized workshops to pass on his knowledge, and has been
invited to speak on the subject in lectures and television presentations.
Terada has been creating highly original works using a variety of techniques. Some
designs are created with stencils (katazome), others are meticulously
painted by hand. Another technique is to draw with a cone (tsutsugaki)
containing a dye-resistant paste to create negative images. Through his creative works, Terada
has elevated kakishibu from a utilitarian medium to an art form that blurs the line between functionality and art.
The current show highlights a spectacular body of work which includes norens,
tapestries, and
washi-covered bamboo baskets that showcase the artist's mastery of this
extraordinary medium.