Kuniko Maeda
Orchid
2023

About the Item

Kuniko Maeda, Orchid Paper, acrylic paint (front), kakishibu paint (back) 40 x 40 x 8 cm 2023 Combining paper cut-outs, acrylic paint and kakishibu (persimmon tannin lacquer), Kuniko Maeda creates elegant, and delicate airy forms, bringing a stunning palette of colors to her work. She draws her inspiration from birds feathers, source of poetry, beauty and lightness. The paper sculpture is held in place by nylon threads in a wooden box lined front and back with anti-reflective glass (x2), allowing it to be seen all around. The box allows the sculpture to be displayed on a table or a plinth. It can also be hung on a wall, with two fasteners on the back of the sculpture (already installed). With the kakishibu technique, Kuniko Maeda illustrates how Japanese culture has valued the use of natural materials for centuries. In this traditional technique, the juice of the acid (unripe) persimmon is extracted to dye various materials, including paper, textiles and wood. Kakishibu is prized for its ability to produce a wide range of hues, from orange-brown to darker brown. Objects dyed with kakishibu become more beautiful over time, following exposure to the sun, which can lead to gradual, delicate oxidation, deepening colors and improving resistance to external elements. Kuniko Maeda is a London-based Japanese artist who works primarily with paper, leather and textiles to create artworks and installations for public and private spaces. She specializes in sustainable textile design and incorporates traditional Japanese techniques with digital technology. By exploring the possibilities of materials and their unique properties, she enables materials to speak and embrace natural abstraction. She draws inspiration from our everyday environment and everyday objects, which tend to be overlooked and forgotten in a hectic urban life. In June 2023, one of her pieces, Columbidae, was selected to embody the visual of the emblematic piece for the 6th edition of the Révélations show, held at the Grand Palais Ephémère in Paris from June 7 to 11, 2023. The work will be packaged in a made-to-measure wooden crate produced in a specialized workshop, with an interior support specially designed for fragile works and long-distance transport.

Creator:

Kuniko Maeda (1976, Japanese)

Creation Year:

2023

Dimensions:

Height: 15.75 in (40 cm)Width: 15.75 in (40 cm)Depth: 3.15 in (8 cm)

Medium:

Paper,Acrylic

Movement & Style:

Contemporary

Period:

21st Century