Kasuri, 2021
Acrylic paint, linen thread, recessed wood panel
60 x 48 x 1 7/8 in
My new series is based on the Japanese form of Ikat called Kasuri, an ancient weaving and dye technique that uses a resistance method applied directly to yarns in order to create woven patterns. Similar to the iconic blurred effect of Kasuri, these new works blur the line between textile and painting. My surface substrate begins as a chaotic network of linen yarn applied to wood panels in indiscriminate clumps and is then gessoed into a flat but topographically rough surface. From here I apply paint directly onto the thread using a tonal palette that creates the illusion of a woven grid, while my threads remain in disarray just underneath the paint’s surface. Inspired by hand-woven materials from my mother’s country of origin, these works are a continuation of my inquiry into the evocative nature of fabric and the deep relationship between humans, textiles, comfort and care.
