Dyeing Elegance: Unraveling the truth and mystery behind the Japanese kimono

Textile Art of Kūboku and Hisako Takaku, 1936-2011

San Diego, Calif- The San Diego Museum of Artwill expand its collection of Asian works of art on view with the addition of a traveling collection of fashionable textiles, Dyeing Elegance:  AsianModernism and the Art of Kūboku and Hisako Takaku.  In this collection, open at the Museum on February 18, 2012, 71 obi, kimono, and other textile paintings of father and daughter pair, Kūboku and Hisako Takaku, will be on display outside of Japan for the first time.

Artist Kūboku Takaku (1908–1993) perfected the ancient technique of wax resistant dyeing to create textile paintings on obi, kimono, and screens. His works merged Japanese subjects with cubist and modernist styles, and he was the only textile artist who effectively transitioned from the Fine Arts circles of the 1930s through 1960s into the world of high fashion forTokyo’s elite. His daughter Hisako is now one of the last living artists who preserves the knowledge of this painstakingdyeing technique, and her obi and kimonos continue to be among the most chic and sought-after in Japan.

Ranging in date from 1928 through present day, Dyeing Elegance documents the historical developments of how western modernism combines with traditional Japanese philosophies, spirituality, and craft through the volatile changes of the twentieth century.

Through these beautiful works of wearable and usable art, visitors will learn about one of Japan’s most astonishing textile crafts: the ancient wax resist dyeing technique, called roketsuzome. This unique dyeing method allows for the creation of delicately modulated and calligraphic brushworkthat apears spontaneous, each created individually by hand. Furthermore, western audiences will become familiar with the art ofelegantkimono dressing with a uniquely Japanese aesthetic adapted to the modern world.

Dyeing Elegance: Asian Modernism and the Art of Kūboku and Hisako Takakuis organized by TheSan Diego Museum of Art and is curated by Sonya Rhie Quintanilla, Ph.D., the Museum's Curator of Asian Art.

Museum Information:

The San Diego Museum of Art is located at 1450 El Prado in Balboa Park, San Diego, Calif., 92101

General Information, (619) 232-7931, Group Sales: (619) 696-1935, Website: http://www.TheSanDiegoMuseumofArt.org, Twitter: @SDMA

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The San Diego Museum of Art provides a rich and diverse cultural experience for 350,000 visitors annually. Located in the heart of beautiful Balboa Park, the Museum’s nationally renowned collections include Spanish and Italian old masters, South Asian paintings, and 19th and 20th century American paintings and sculptures. The Museum regularly features major exhibitions of art from around the world, as well as an extensive year-round schedule supporting cultural and educational programs for children and adults. At The San Diego Museum of Art, exhibition text is always in English and Spanish.

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