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Rice and Straw.
Shimenawa Artisan Kiyoshi Joko
—Living together, Weaving time.
For over half a century, Kiyoshi Joko has been a dedicated shimenawa (a sacred rope) artisan in Seiyo City, Ehime Prefecture. From planting to harvesting, he cultivates his own rice, handling the straw with great care and intention as he weaves each piece.
Shimenawa works, created with prayers for health, peace, and a bountiful harvest, symbolize the joy of waiting for spring at the end of the year. Those Shimenawa works are available to the public through folk art stores and select stores throughout Japan. In 2021, his granddaughter launched the "Mago(grandchild) Project" to preserve and promote her grandfather's traditional craft.
This exhibition was put together by the Mountain Morning creative team of interior stylist Fumiko Sakuhara and director Takanori Imai, who felt great empathy with the "Mago Project," and was inspired by the thoughts of Kiyoshi's granddaughter Chika. The team travelled to Ehime together with a photographer to capture Kiyoshi's work, from rice planting to production, in photos and videos which will be exhibited at the exhibition. Additionally, through spatial design incorporating styling by Sakuhara, a space will be created where people can come into contact with and experience straw culture and be introduced to the project from multiple angles.
Experience the timeless art of shimenawa making through the work of Kiyoshi Joko. This exhibition showcases the craftsmanship, relationship beyond generation and dedication of a lifetime, as well as his granddaughter's efforts to preserve and promote this traditional art form. The artworks are also on sale in the gallery.
Profile
Kiyoshi Joko (Farmer/Shimenawa Artisan)
Born in 1936. A straw artisan with a studio in Uwa-cho, Seiyo City, Ehime Prefecture. In 2002, he established the Uwa Waraguro Association to preserve the disappearing straw culture for the future, and has participated in competitions and events across the country. In 2021, he won the Ehime Asahi Television President's Award at the 21st Century Ehime Traditional Crafts Grand Prize. He is currently active in the hope of passing on straw culture to the future.
Chika Joko (Representative of the Mago Project)
While she had experience as a salesperson at a crafts shop, she came into contact with the works of her grandfather, Kiyoshi, an artisan, through event planning. This caused her to start the "Mago Project" as an organization to distribute and promote Kiyoshi's artworks. Currently, she is a farmer with her grandfather, and is involved in everything from preparing materials to supporting production.
Mountain Morning
Launched by Interior stylist Fumiko Sakuhara and director Takanori Imai in 2015 working on space produce, brands and stores directions, product development, and communication design. They aim to be a community where people and things meet, interact, enjoy the unexpectedness that arise, share the joy and create new things through mutual respect.
- Date
- December 14 (Sat) - 26 (Thu), 2024
- Venue
- 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Gallery 3
- Closed
- Open everyday
- Hours
- 10:00 - 19:00
- Admission
- Free
- Organized by
- method Inc.
- Planned by
- Mountain Morning, MAGO PROJECT
- Sponsor
- JAMS&CO LLC.
- Support
- FUJIFILM Imaging Systems Co., ltd.
- In association with
- Ehime Promotion Headquarters, Ehime Prefectural Government
- Inquiry
- method Inc. 03-6427-9296 (11:00 - 19:00, Except Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays)
info@wearemethod.com - Website
- http://wearemethod.com/