Japanese embroidery artist Yuri Miyazaki stitches on mostly thin, diaphanous fabric such as organza. The transparency of this type of fabric means that stitches on both sides of the work are visible. Usually, the reverse of an embroidery can hide a multitude of sins, but here it must be considered part of the artwork. The entire thread and its journey through the fabric are visible as one continuous, unbroken line. The resulting style is loose and unrestrained, in places resembling quick ink sketches on paper.
A palette of icy blues and winter whites interrupted by the odd flash of pink or yellow conjure up images of isolated natural landscapes. Hibernating earth of foxes, a cautious stag and an owl mid-flight occupy mountainous landscapes. Even Yuri Miyazaki’s abstract embroideries hint at these quiet, icy lands; repeated undulating lines suggest hills and rivers, geometric shapes turn into crisp leaves or icicles in the imagination.
Yuri Miyazaki’s works are seldom matted and framed. instead, they are casually hung, the fabric left to its own devices, or they are draped over perspex boxes, their transparency becoming even more apparent. Head over to the artists Instagram page to see examples of her work displayed in glass bottles and even light bulbs. See more of Miyazaki’s work on her website.
If you liked this post I would recommend taking a look at this post about the embroidery art by Ana Teresa Barboza.
If you’re interested in contemporary fiber arts from Japan, I recommend the following catalogue by Sheila Hicks and Rhonda Brown: Tradition Transformed: Contemporary Japanese textile art & fiber scupture.
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