Michiko Sugiura

“Pleasant breeze on a fine spring day”. Formed with tōso over wooden core and covered with paper.

  • Dolls
  • Presented in 2019
  • H 33.0 cm
  • Contact for Price

I made this piece, being inspired by a mysterious picture of a child wearing a sword, running around in the air in an old picture scroll from the Heian period (12th century) called Shigisan engi.

Category Dolls
Year Presented 2019
Dimensions H 33.0 cm
Exhibition The 66th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

Michiko Sugiura

photo Michiko Sugiura

The method that I use is called mokushin toso washibari, which is forming the piece over a wooden core with toso (mixture of sawdust of paulownia wood and wheat starch) , applying gofun (whitewash), covering with Japanese traditional paper and coloring. Basically, I make dolls, but I exaggerate or simplify the form so that the people who see my work can relate to it more. I also try to make the dolls to match the modern living space. In modern life, we are unable to understand people's feelings, or their state of mind right away just from how they look. I try to simplify the appearance as much as I can so that they can be easily understood. There are various kinds of Japanese traditional paper, but I sometimes dye my own paper or arrange the paper to change the texture. I also use other various material such as fabric, metallic foil, whitewash, mineral pigments, etc. on making my art work.