Mayumi Sterchi of HIMO ART auctions a bold ceramic fiber art piece on The Fiber Studio Instagram.
We are now well into the summer auction program, with this post being the introduction of the third piece of the season! So far we’ve seen a Salt Stitches mini abstract embroidery and a Lauren Williams pair of tapestries, so this time we thought we’d introduce something a little different!
Mayumi Sterchi of HIMO ART combines her fiber art with minimal ceramic shapes, creating one-of-kind pieces for the home. The work we will be auctioning this month is a ‘talisman-like wall hanging’ in contrasting black and orange. The ceramic is double glazed and supports a long tassel either side, hanging 21 inches long. This statement wall sculpture will add a sophisticated pop of colour to any interior.
The opening bid for this one-of-a-kind piece is only $1 and there is no reserve. You’ll find more information on how to participate in the auction at the end of this post.
Read more about May’s practice in the interview below.
Where does the name HIMO ART come from?
When I started selling my work, I knew I wanted use a Japanese word for my brand’s name. HIMO means “strings” in Japanese. I make art using strings so I simply put HIMO and ART together.
Tell us a bit about the piece you’re auctioning. What’s the inspiration and process behind it?
The design of this piece was from one of the sketches I did about a year ago. I had the vision to create talisman-like wall hanging tassels soon after I started combining ceramic into my fiber work. It is one of my earliest designs.
Making ceramic pieces requires many steps; I start from wedging the clay, and then making shapes. After the clay is completely dry, which takes about a week, I bisque fire them and apply glaze, then I fire them one more time. It could be a total disaster if I didn’t do it right when glaze firing. Figuring out how I load the pieces into the kiln can be very challenging because every time is very different. Opening the kiln after the final firing is very exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time.
The orange/red string on the piece is called “shu iro” in Japanese, which is one of the oldest traditional Japanese colors. I love how it contrasts with the color of the dark black stoneware. It is absolutely a one of a kind piece made with lots of love and care 🙂
What lead you to combine textiles with ceramics?
My husband got me a kiln as a Christmas gift a few years ago. I’ve been interested in ceramics but that was a complete surprise. It was so exciting adding this new medium because I used to buy ceramic beads or parts from someone else but now I can make my own! I wouldn’t have been able to do what I do now if I my husband hadn’t got me the kiln that year so I am thankful he got it for me.
What was your journey to becoming an artist and creating HIMO ART?
I remember I had a “This is it!” moment when I made my first macramé piece back in 2010. I loved everything about knotting. The repetitive movement is so therapeutic. I had tried many different mediums before doing fiber art but I knew this time was different. Using fiber allows me to transfer my thoughts into a visual object exactly the way I want on a personal level. Once I got to taste what it’s like to be able to express my feelings and emotions freely, there was no going back.
The ideas keep popping up in my mind endlessly. I have been in the US for over 15 years and I realize how important it is for me to have an outlet to express my inner voice other than language. I wish I was a better communicator in English, I think about it all the time. Having an outlet through art without any limits changed my life in a very positive way. It is satisfying.
Do you ever have periods of creative block?
Yes. I was diagnosed with tendinitis and carpel tunnel a few years ago. It’s not something you can fix right away. When I feel pain, I lose my momentum. Fortunately, the ideas are always coming up so I keep doing sketches until I’m ready to start knotting again.
You were born and raised in Japan and relocated to San Diego in 2004, what brought about this move?
It was my husband. He got a very good job offer in San Diego. I wanted to experience living in a different country as well so it was just a perfect opportunity for us to move to the US.
How do you spend your time when you’re not making Ceramics art fiber art?
I found this amazing app called Elsa speak. It’s an app that you can practice English pronunciation. I use it whenever I find the time so that I can improve my pronunciation 🙂
What do you have planned for the future of HIMO ART?
One thing I realized after doing HIMO ART for 6 years is that I can’t make the same pieces over and over in order to keep my creative mind flowing. I carefully listen to my voice and my design changes constantly. Because of that, it’s hard to tell which direction I am going to. I may add a new medium in the future if I find something that I feel is right. My goal is “To keep doing what I can and what I feel is right”.
Making art is a very important part of my life. My work might change over time but there is one thing that absolutely stays in my work, my roots. The roots that remind me of who I am. The roots that give me enormous comfort when I need it especially when I feel homesick. My childhood memories have always been my biggest inspiration and they will remain in my heart deeply until the end of this journey.
AUCTION DETAILS
The auction will take place over one weekend, starting on Friday 9th August at 7pm GMT, ending on Sunday 11th August at 7pm GMT.
To participate in the auction follow The Fiber Studio on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/thefiberstudio/?hl=en. You must cast your bid in the comments section of the Instagram auction post.
Bidding is in US dollars.
Payment will be due via PayPal or bank transfer.
Shipping is $10 within the US and $24 Internationally.
Only bids in the auction post’s comment section will count. Neither the Fiber Studio, not the artist, will accept bids made outside this space.
The Fiber Studio does not take any responsibly for the artwork after the auction has ended. This includes loss and damage. Once payment has cleared, I will send contact details of the buyer to the artist. The artist is responsible for any correspondence thereafter.
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