Japan Blue: Weaving Connections
Partner Programme
13 — 21 Sept 2025
Craft, Art / Collectibles
13 Sept12:00—18:00
14 Sept12:00—18:00
15 Sept12:00—18:00
16 Sept12:00—18:00
17 Sept12:00—18:00
18 Sept12:00—18:00
19 Sept12:00—18:00
20 Sept12:00—18:00
21 Sept12:00—18:00
In Person
Free, by appointment only
Touch Aizome's soul. From Tokushima, Japan's indigo heartland, dive into relational art, spinning of tradition. Your hands forge an indigo bridge, connecting Tokushima's heritage with London's creative pulse. More than an exhibit, it's your direct encounter with living Aizome.
The communities represented by this project are multi-layered. At its core lies the local community of Tokushima, whose activities—from indigo cultivation and dyeing to product creation—are nurtured by the region's rich natural environment, lifestyle, and history. Next, the proud community of Aizome artisans and workshops emerges—professionals who faithfully preserve traditional techniques passed down from their predecessors while constantly seeking new forms of expression. Furthermore, it is anticipated that through participation in the installation, visitors will share new impressions and discoveries, forming a temporary yet warm community imbued with a sense of solidarity. Presenting this as a participatory installation, a contemporary art method, can be seen as a response to the universal theme of "the succession and innovation of traditional culture." The meticulous handiwork by Watanabe's quietly yet powerfully conveys the "value of handcraft and profound artisanship," which can never be replicated by mass production in today's efficiency-driven world. Moreover, widely disseminating Tokushima's unique Aizome culture both domestically and internationally greatly contributes to "the promotion of regional culture and the establishment of identity." Visitors, by actively using their hands and engaging with indigo through all five senses, will be able to learn about the multifaceted appeal of Aizome more deeply and in a memorable way through "cultural understanding via participation and experience." Furthermore, the deep and seemingly infinite gradations of indigo color condense and express traditional Japanese "aesthetics" and spirituality. The use of natural dyes also connects to important themes faced by modern society, such as "coexistence with nature and sustainability." This installation will connect culture, people, and the region, presenting new possibilities and the future of Aizome.
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