Unravelled
At first glance, Aiko Tezuka’s unravelled weavings look like photos suffering from a computer glitch. Her signature technique of separating threads into perfect parallel lines is a clever way of reinterpreting textiles - picking out the raw colour from a finished design in an almost rebellious act.
In some pieces, the pulled out threads are like colourful waterfalls, cascading away from the textile. In others, the threads are pulled out from the original weaving and reconnect in a new pattern or image. They might even be woven together in a new way, mixing up the original colours in a different order.
Aiko, who is originally Japanese but works in Berlin, Germany, has spent a great deal of time closely studying the cultural and economic histories of different Eastern and Western textile traditions, also looking at how they have interacted and influenced one another. In this way, her work is informed by knowledge of various symbolisms and cultural contexts. Her work is also inspired by an ever persistent curiosity of what lies under the surface of objects. Aiko wants her work to peel back layers, never wishing to remain at the surface level only.
Aiko’s solo show Dear Oblivion is opening at the Michael Janssen gallery in Berlin on 14 September and will run until 16 November. Some of her work is also on show at the MA2 gallery in Tokyo until 28 September 2019.
Blog post by Jessica Edney.