I make fiber art installations with hand-woven ropes from used clothes and linens donated by family and friends, giving new life to no longer desired items and including the community in my art.
I approach my work as a form of painting. Fabric scraps are colors on my palette: vintage kimonos, summer camp T-shirts, and well-loved tablecloths. Introducing different cultural references in patterns and colors from all over the world, I mix them into a linear rope form as a gesture toward interconnection.
In recent years, I have found emotional comfort in weaving ropes as a meditative ritual wishing for a peaceful, non-violent society. I later discovered that my grandmother's family was a rope manufacturer when my mother remarked that it was interesting that I was making ropes "like I'm supposed to." The structure of ropes also fascinates in that braiding two opposing forces creates strength.
With wires inside, those ropes are composed to be touchable sculptures and installations referencing metaphoric objects or forms like the human body or a tree. The installations are mostly site-specific, displayed on the wall, self-standing on the floor or tabletop, and hanging from the ceiling.
2023. 2'x9.5'x2'. Five Myles (photo: Hidemi Takagi)
2023, 3x4x1.5 feet
2023, Hand-woven ropes made from donated fabrics, wire.
2023, Hand-woven ropes made from donated fabrics, wire.
2023, Hand-woven ropes made from donated fabrics, wire.
2023, Hand-woven ropes made from donated fabrics, wire.
2023, Hand-woven ropes made from donated fabrics, wire.
5x5x4 feet
2023 Photo: Hidemi Takagi
2023 Photo: Hidemi Takagi
2022, 8x4x2 feet, A site specific installation
2020, 6x8.5x3 feet.
2020, 6x8.5x3 feet.
2019, 40"x30"x12"
2019, 24"x 36"x12"
2020, 33 x 48 x 3 inch
2019. Site-specific installation at St. Joseph College. 15 feet wide x 5 feet tall x 1 feet deep.
2019. Site-specific installation at St. Joseph College. 15 feet wide x 5 feet tall x 1 feet deep.
2019. Site-specific installation at St. Joseph College. 15 feet wide x 5 feet tall x 1 feet deep.
2020 Photo: Johhanes Berg
2019.
2019
2019
2019
2019
2019
2017, 6'x6.5' This site-specific installation was about the modern history of women. I attempted to portray the beauty of strong women who are oppressed by the society. The red and pink colors are suggestive of the blood we shed. The vertically hanging ropes represent the storyline of our lives. I feel women’s souls dwell in traditional clothing like a kimono worn over many generations of a family. Exhibited at The Yard City Hall Park, curated by Jessica Porter.
2017, 6'x6.5' This site-specific installation was about the modern history of women. I attempted to portray the beauty of strong women who are oppressed by the society. The red and pink colors are suggestive of the blood we shed. The vertically hanging ropes represent the storyline of our lives. I feel women’s souls dwell in traditional clothing like a kimono worn over many generations of a family. Exhibited at The Yard City Hall Park, curated by Jessica Porter.
Handmade ropes made with recycled fabric.
2019
2017, 5'H x 3'W x 2D. Hand-made ropes with recycled fabric, aluminum wire. This piece is about an intimate connection with a mother and a child exchanging energy. The emotional and physical warmth is being shared between two hearts. It was originally inspired by the experience of breastfeeding. I have been fascinated by the fact a baby can send information on what nutrient they need through his/her saliva to mother’s body, and the mother’s body reacts to give the nutrient.
2017
2017
2017, 36”x60”x2”
2017, Hand-made ropes with recycled fabric (mostly old T-shirts) 22”x22”x 30” each x 3 sculptures.
2017
2017