Past Exhibitions

	Stencil, early 20th century
Pattern Richness in Modern Japanese Textiles February 15, 2007–July 6, 2008 SAAM Tateuchi Galleries

Among the various methods of Japanese textile dyeing, tie-dyeing (shibori) and paper stencil–dyeing (katazome) are known worldwide for their diverse techniques and remarkable quality. This exhibition features strong and elegant design work created with tie-dyeing and paper stencil techniques, as seen on kimonos from the nineteenth to the twentieth century.

Tie-dyeing, a process of pinching, stitching and folding cloth with threads before dyeing, brings out impressive patterns of subtle coloration and texture on the cloth. This method has come from ancient origins and has developed phenomenally in Japan since the sixteenth century.

The paper stencil–dyeing technique involves brushing a resist paste onto the cloth before dyeing or applying dyestuffs through a stencil. This technique has evolved since the seventeenth century. Stencils with connectable designs make it possible to create endless patterns on the cloth. Paper stencils (katagami), crafted from handmade paper with tannin-rich persimmon juice, are also regarded as art; they show the sharp and minute designs available only to the skilled specialist.

In the modern era, Japanese design has encountered another dynamic period in which artists have adopted a Western sense and motifs and mixed them with traditional design and skills. Approximately thirty objects, consisting of kimonos and stencils, selected from SAM’s permanent collection will be on view for this exhibition.

—Yukiko Shirahara, John A. McCone Foundation Curator of Asian Art

Stencil, Japanese, early 20th century, mulberry paper treated with persimmon tannin and silk thread, image: 14 5/8 x 19 11/16 in., Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection, 33.1773

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