Japan is home to the beautifully adorned and traditional form of dress known as the kimono. However, the practice of wearing these expertly crafted fabrics is no longer an upheld tradition in Japan, except for certain traditional occasions such as weddings or coming-of-age celebrations.
"It seems to be a dying form," Nancy Huth, Ball State Museum assistant director and curator of education, said.
The Ball State Museum of Art is hosting an exhibit featuring Japanese kimonos, obis and a selection of the museum's collection of Japanese wood-block prints. The show, Japanese Kimonos: Traditional Motifs, runs from Jan. 15 to March 7 and features 40 examples of traditional Japanese dress from the 1930s and 1940s era. The kimonos and other pieces of traditional Japanese dress are on loan from Blair-Murrah Exhibitions in Sibley, Mo.
"The prints predate the kimonos in the exhibition by around a century," Huth said.
In the wood-block prints, the figures wear the kimonos in a more flowing manner than was traditional during the era of the kimonos from the pre-World War II era, as featured in the exhibit.
Kimonos require great care and attention when cleaning and storing. Unlike Western clothing, kimonos must be carefully taken apart at the seams in order to be washed. Then, the delicate kimono pieces are laid to dry on a bed of bamboo sticks. This method is called shinshibari. Cleaning the kimono is a very involved process and is therefore not done often, especially with the more delicate fibers such as silk.
Kimonos' fabric is commonly woven from fibers such as silk, wool or cotton. These fibers are woven into fabrics such as silk crepe. Obis, the sash that ties around the kimono, are made from similar fibers and fabrics.
Kasuri is the name of the tie-dye technique employed in making the beautiful patterns on the kimonos. This technique originated in India and was employed in Japan around the 15th or 16th century. In this process, bundles of fabric are wrapped in white cotton thread, and the fabric is dyed in particular patterns. The Japanese also used a block-print technique to apply design to the kimonos.
The most confusing attribute of the kimono is the diversity of style, patterns and uses for the kimono. Each type of kimono has a different name and is used by either men or women for different occasions and uses.
The most common style of kimono is called the yukata. This is the most plain type of kimono and one of the only types of kimonos seldom worn today. Translated, yukata means "bath clothing" and was wrapped on after bathing. However, the thin, unlined cotton kimono known as the yukata developed into a unisex kimono worn for summer dress, sleeping or relaxing at home.
A more lavish type of kimono is the wedding kimono, or uchikake. This richly embroidered and brocaded kimono consists of a long-sleeved outer robe, usually white or red, and is adorned with traditional symbols, such as the crane or tortoise. During the ceremony, the bride wears two layers of white robes under the uchikake. The exhibit features four examples of uchikakes.
Another unisex kimono style is the haori. This garment originated as a piece only worn by men, but developed into a loose jacket that can be worn for various occasions depending on the length of the garment. A short haori is worn around the house, a medium-length haori is used for everyday activity and a long haori is used for formal wear only.
The museum is also hosting a number of related gallery talks throughout the next three months, including a talk on the art of the Japanese Tea Ceremony and the art of origami.
Events Related to show at Ball State Museum of Art
Sunday, Jan. 25, 2:30 p.m.
Gallery Talk
Wrapped in Art: Wearing a Kimono
Fumiko Chiuni and Yoshiko Kendall demonstrate the wrapping and wearing of a traditional kimono.
Sunday, Feb. 8, 2:30 p.m.
Gallery Talk
The Art of the Japanese Tea Ceremony
Fumiko Chiuni and Yoshiko Kendall demonstrate and discuss the traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
Tuesday, Feb. 10, noon
Art For Lunch
Impressions and the Kimono in American Fashion
Nancy Huth, museum assistant director and curator of education, discusses the existence of kimonos in American painting and fashion of the turn of the 20th century.
Sunday, Feb. 22, 2:30 p.m.
Gallery Talk
The Art of Origami
Museum preparatory Judith Cardassilaris demonstrates the art of origami and invites participants to try their hands at this traditional technique.
Sunday, March 28, 2:30 p.m.
Gallery Talk
Japanese Prints
Mikiko Hirayama, assistant professor of art history, University of Cincinnati, holds a discussion on the Japanese wood-block print exhibition.
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