Yuzen is a resist dyeing technique that originated in 17th-century Kyoto and involves painting dye directly onto cloth after sprinkling it with rice paste, thereby achieving distinctively vivid hues that are often seen on kimono. Visitors to Kyoto's National Museum of Modern Art can admire the pinnacle of yuzen mastery from May to July 2020, when this exhibition focused on the life and work of ‘Living National Treasure’ Kunihiko Moriguchi takes over the venue. The son of venerated yuzen master Kako Moriguchi, Kunihiko studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and is noted for fusing the yuzen tradition with techniques from the field of graphic design, thereby opening up new artistic horizons. Perhaps best known popularly for the design that decorates the Mitsukoshi department store's shopping bags, Moriguchi brings yuzen into the 21st century with his border- and genre-crossing, innnovative work.
Note: The dates and opening hours of this exhibition may change due to the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. Please see the official website for the latest details.