An exhibition of works by indigo dyeing artist Shioco Fukumoto is being held at Seiko House Hall in Wako, Ginza. The title of the exhibition is "Shioco Fukumoto - Sea of ​​Indigo." Fukumoto, who is active worldwide for her works that evoke the deep depths of space, has recently chosen a new material for indigo dyeing: fishing nets that were actually used but were soon to be discarded. Made of natural cotton, fishing nets are disappearing with the advent of synthetic fibers, but they have been dyed in indigo and beautifully revived as works of art. The venue, where works such as Tsushima hemp tapestries and indigo-dyed flax woven for mosquito nets are on display, gives the impression that even the air is dyed in indigo.

Layers of indigo-dyed fishing nets hanging silently adrift

Many waves drift gently. You are enveloped in a mysterious sensation, similar to the sensation of floating in the ocean, as if you are catching the swaying of the drifting waves. As you get closer to the waves, you realize they are nets. The largest ones are about 20 meters wide. The smallest are 10 meters wide. Multiple layers of fishing nets, attached only at their ends to ceiling rails, hang down in a gentle curve. The nets, with a gradation from deep indigo to white, stand quietly, hiding the memory of having once drifted in the sea. The title of the work is "Indigo Sea."

Shigeko Fukumoto has been involved in a variety of creative endeavors using indigo dyeing, and has exhibited her work around the world as an "indigo dyeing artist." This time, she tried her hand at indigo dyeing fishing nets.

"The net is made from cotton. It had actually been used for a long time and was about to be thrown away, so when I got it it was pitch black. I washed it, bleached it, and then dyed it with indigo. Indigo only stains natural materials, but it dyes even old, dirty nets beautifully."

Natural fibers being replaced by synthetic fibers

While fishing nets were once made mainly from cotton or linen, most have now been replaced by synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon, which are durable, lightweight, and easy to handle. However, the pollution of the oceans caused by discarded chemicals that remain in the ocean has become a global problem.

"Fishing nets made from natural cotton can be dyed a beautiful indigo blue, which is a reflection of the beautiful, unpolluted ocean. Fishing nets that were about to be discarded were dyed indigo and transformed into this look. I hope that these nets will have some kind of impact on the current situation in which the ocean is being polluted by synthetic fibers."

Cotton fishing nets are heavy. They are cut to a certain length and then dyed. In some ways, this is hard work. When dyeing, the nets are lifted and hung up, and even a small crane is used. Why did Fukumoto go to such lengths to dye fishing nets? It's because fishing nets are a natural material.

Ramie, Chinese cotton, flax... Fukumoto has been creating a wide variety of works over the years and has always worked with natural materials. However, these natural materials are disappearing one after another.

Fukumoto continues to work with indigo, hoping that by allowing more people to experience the beauty of natural materials dyed with indigo, it might be possible to stop this situation, even if only a little.

The encounter between indigo and fabric that embodies the climate of Tsushima

Several vertical tapestries were hanging on the walls of the venue. The title of the work was "Tsushima." As the name suggests, the work is derived from Tsushima, a remote island in Kyushu.

"The people of Tsushima grew hemp and flax and wove a unique fabric called Tsushima hemp to wear as work clothes. We took apart old work clothes, sewed them together to make tapestries, and dyed parts of them with indigo. Tsushima is rocky and the roads are narrow, so there wasn't much interaction between villages. That's why each village wove their own unique patterns and textures into the fabric. It's a wonderful fabric that embodies the climate of the island of Tsushima and the lives of the people who live there, and it teaches us the value of handwork that was once done everywhere in Japan."

When Fukumoto first encountered this fabric, he dyed most of it with indigo. Eventually, the indigo dyeing became minimal, and the majority of his work was left as it was.

"I began to think that it would be better to cherish the texture and strength of the fabric, which has absorbed and soaked in so many different things. The indigo brings out the strength of the fabric. I hope that the wedge-like indigo will speak to the harshness of the island's natural environment and its remoteness."

In contrast to the gently swaying "Indigo Sea," the wall piece titled "Tsushima" has an almost austere presence, approaching those standing in front of it. Both are made from natural materials and represent the indigo dyeing process.

Drawing out my own expression from the laws of the universe

"Indigo develops its color when it comes into contact with oxygen in the air. We wash the fabric many times, so we need clean water, natural fibers to absorb the indigo, and indigo itself, which is a natural material. In other words, air, water, natural fibers, and indigo. All of these are gifts from nature, and indigo dyeing would not exist without these four elements. I simply draw my own expression from the combination of these absolute laws of nature. I am not trying to express myself. Of course, I do many trials to get a feel for what will happen if I do this or that. But ultimately I leave it to nature. I don't want to leave any traces that look like I have made it with my own hands."

In the past, Fukumoto-san would strive for a higher level of perfection in order to create a single piece of work, and before he knew it, he had dyed 2 pieces of cloth. It is precisely because of this that Fukumoto-san's words, "I'm not trying to express myself," resonate even more strongly.

Indigo dyeing is born from the exquisite combination of the laws of nature. This time, Fukumoto used fishing nets that were about to be discarded and Tsushima textiles that are over 100 years old to create new expressions in indigo dyeing. How will he combine the laws of nature and what kind of expressions will he bring out next?

◆Art exploration diary ~ Exhibition information

Shioko Fukumoto─Indigo Sea─

Date: January 2025, 11 (Thursday) - January 27, 2025 (Sunday)

Time: 11:00 – 19:00 (until 17:00 on the last day)