Miho Fukaishi

• Category
  Textiles
• Techniques
  Kasuri weaving
• Born
  1949 -
• Based in
  Okinawa
• Membership
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
  

Style

For the past five or six years, I have been making textiles on which silk gauze and Hanaui weaving are combined with checked patterns.

One day after finishing work on a piece of textile I decided to call it Ichimatsu Hanaro-ori. After using this weaving technique on other pieces, I noticed a distinct spatial or stereoscopic effect, which could be described as color shading. I had not noticed this while working and facing the loom before, and now I find I am completely captivated by this effect.

Depth has appeared in the wonder of mosaic-like coloration created by the crossing of the vertical and horizontal colored stripes, and the crossing of plain and gauze woven structures.

When I see this textile, I come to realize the eloquent expressiveness of shadows created by the strong and intense light of this southern island. I feel the natural beauty of the place seems to have influenced my creativity without my knowing it and guided me to weave this textile.

I received an Agency for Cultural Affairs Commissioner's Award for a work I wove by applying this technique. The following is an excerpt:
　“An elegant color field structure produced by skillful techniques and a refined sensitivity exceeds the classic checked patterns, and the work is filled with a contemporary feel.

By combining the Hanaui weaving of Okinawa with a modern approach, the work makes us aware of new possibilities in the textile arts.”

Biography

• 1970
  Left Musashino Art University
• 1979
  Learned Minsa weaving from ARA Kinue at Minsa Crafts Gallery
• 1981
  Studied hand weaving and ikat dyeing under the late OSHIRO
  Shizuko in Shuri, Okinawa City
• 1982
  Established the Karan studio at Nakasuji, Ishigaki City. Started
  production of interior goods using plant-dyed and ikat woven linen,
  cotton, and bashofu
• 1983
  Solo exhibition, Keio Department Store, Shinjuku, Tokyo
• 1984
  Participated in One Village One Product Crafts Exhibition,
  Yokohama Takashimaya Department Store
  Continued production to order from folkcraft shops in her county.
  Started cultivation, production, and aidate
  (a technique to make a leaf ball) ofIndian indigo, cultivation, dyeing and
  weaving of yaeyama aoki (Indian mulberry),
  and Tyrian purple shell dyeing
  Attended an omi* course at Yaeyama Museum, and through meetin
  g with SUNAGAWA Emiko in Miyakojima Island,
  conducted test weaving of fine light linen material *Twisting False
  nettle fibers into thread
  Explored possibility of dyeing and weaving in Yaeyama, e.g. learning
  sedentary reeling of fresh cocoons from ITOMAN Tomi in Kabira, Ishigaki City
• 1989
  Two Artists Exhibition, Beniya Folkcraft Shop, Shibuya, Tokyo
• 1990
  Invited TAWADA Yoshiko and held ""Hanaui (Raised Figure)
  Weaving Course"" under the Prefectural Craft Training Institute Advisor Program
• 1993
  Gave the name “Kabira-ori” to plant-dyed fresh cocoon textiles using silk
  threads reeled by hand, and shipped
  Interviewed by the novelist TATEMATSU Wahei for a magazine serial titled
  ""Dyeing, Weaving, and Prayer"" in the magazine ""Utsukushii Kimono""
• 2000
  Held ""Work at Karan Studio"" Exhibition, Ishigaki Municipal Library Exhibition Hall
• 2005
  Solo exhibition ""Changing Ikat:Fukaishi Miho Ikat Weaving Exhibition,"" Kyoto
• 2009
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
• 2013
  Held ""Weaving and Coloring Light and Shade:Fukaishi Miho Exhibition,""
  Ginza Motoji, Tokyo

Awards

• 1995
  Received Honourable Mention at the National New Textile Artists Exhibition
  (hosted by the Japan Kimono Arts and Crafts Association)
• 1996
  Selected for the Okiten (first time) (hosted by the Okinawa Times)
• 1997
  Received the Grand Prize at the Okinawa Crafts Public Exhibition
  (hosted by Okinawa Prefecture)
• 1999
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Silver Prize at the West Japan Arts and Crafts Exhibition
  (hosted by the Japan Kogei Association Western Branch)
• 2001
  Selected for the Japan Traditional Textile Arts Exhibition (first time)
  (hosted by the Japan Kogei Association Textile Department)
• 2002
  Selected for the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition (first time)
  (hosted by the Japan Kogei Association)
• 2003
  Received the Incentive Award at the Okiten
• 2005
  Received the Commerce and Tourism Award
  from the Okinawa Prefecture at the Yaeyama Industry Festival
• 2006
  Received the Chairman of Japan Art Crafts Association Prize
  at the Japan Traditional Textile Arts Exhibition
• 2011
  Received the Agency for Cultural Affairs Commissioner's Award
  at the Japan Traditional Textile Arts Exhibition
• 2012
  Received the Mayor of Urasoe Award at the Okiten
• 2014
  Received the Incentive Award at the Okiten