There is nothing more static than textiles: woven or printed, once you've designed and manufactured them, they're finished and you can't alter them. Unless you're Yuri Himuro.
The Japanese textile and product designer has indeed worked out a way to create unexpected changes in her textiles that produce a reaction of surprise in the people looking at them.
Himuro creates indeed little stories and scenes featuring landscapes or people. The scenes look like perfectly ordinary glimpses of life, but, if you cut the threads in certain sections, you may end up revealing hidden secrets.
Nothing is indeed what it seems in Yuri Himuro's world: the undefined black lump on a soft laptop case turns once the cover is open into a rock teeming with tiny red crabs; a desolate fishing scene in Lapland suddenly animates revealing tiny fish or happy swimmers underneath thick white ice; animals hiding behind a green uniform lawn suddenly pop up on the fabric when you cut the green threads behind a man with a mower.
These pieces created with the help of a Japanese mill could be defined as narrative textiles with a twist in the tail, since they do seem to tell a story that is set and finished, but they actually tell a tale that can be altered. In this way the person cutting the threads also becomes part of the design process, in a collaborative effort with Himuro herself to create a fun and surprising product.
Can you tell us more about your background?
Yuri Himuro: I studied textiles at Tama Art University in Japan and I also studied at Aalto University in Finland as an exchange student. I have been interested in the relationship between people and products since I was kid. So I was thinking of becoming a product designer. When I entered Tama Art University, I chose textile as my field of specialisation. I found it has a wide range of possibilities that enables me to create relationship between people and products. I thought that was what I wanted to do, because textiles are linked with our daily life.
Do disciplines such as art inform your work?
Yuri Himuro: I think I was influenced by the education both in Japan and Finland a lot. Tama's education focuses on craftsmanship and discovering new aspects of the material by exploring it using our hands. In Finland, I studied the techniques and skills of drawing weaving draft for jacquard textile. Then I developed my design using the jacquard technique, based on the spirit of Japanese craftsmanship. As a result, I could create unique works such as "Lapland", "Shiba", "Hide and Seek", and so on.
Your "Face Puzzle" project makes me think a lot about Enrico Baj's works. Do you have a favourite artist inspiring your textiles?
Yuri Himuro: One of my favorite artists is Rob Gonsalves, who has been inspiring me a lot. I am always amazed by his imagination. I respect his imagination that changes our view and pespectives on everyday life. He always shows us how interesting our life could be. When I create my product, I always think how I can show the different ways of viewing our daily life and I try to make it more interesting and fun.
Which was the most difficult aspect of developing your designs with motifs concealed behind the threads?
Yuri Himuro: Actually, it was not so difficult to come up with this idea - figures hiding behind the threads. However, it was very difficult to realise this idea. First, I drew the weaving draft, then brought it to the textile mill in Japan. We tried to weave it but in vain. I made many small changes and we tried many times and, with the cooperation of the staff at the mill, I finally succeeded. My main purpose in creating products is to make people smile: I hope people get happy or excited when they see or use my products!
Quite often your designs tell stories: how does the creative process work for you, do you first develop a story in your mind and then you start developing it?
Yuri Himuro: I always start working asking myself "what makes people happy?" Then I imagine the moment or scene when people smile by taking action - flipping the fabric upside down, or cutting the thread. From there I develop a story like finding fish, animals, crabs, plants, and people.
Do you have a favourite yarn manufacturer?
Yuri Himuro: Yes. Most of them are in Japan, because their products are always high quality.
What kind of threads/yarns do you prefer?
Yuri Himuro: I love 100% wool. They are comfortableto the touch and offer great variety. I can use them in many ways and create different textures such as felt. By processing wool, you can come up with a varieties of surface effects.
Is there a technique you'd like to experiment with in future?
Yuri Himuro: I would love to create new products by combining Jacquard and needle punching.
Will you be taking part in any events such as exhibitions soon?
Yuri Himuro: I'm planning to have my solo exhibition in Japan this Spring. I don't have any specific events planned in Europe, but I'd love to visit Europe in the near future. I'll update my News and Diary pages on my website, so check it out to know more about further events.
Image credits
All images in this post Courtesy and Copyright Yuri Himuro
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