The Worldview of Kimekomi Art, Created by Combining the Scraps: Asako Iwamizu Presents a Counter-Argument to Fast Fashion

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Do you know what a "wooden relief doll" is? As you can imagine from the name, it's a craft made by carving lines into a mold made of wood or clay, and inserting the ends of the cloth into the carved lines.

It is a technique used when making dolls such as Hina dolls, which results in a look as if they are actually wearing kimonos. Using this doll technique, there is an artist who creates a unique realm of "Kimekomi Art." That artist is Asako Iwamizu.

Iwamizu's works are indeed vibrant. By combining several distinct colors and adding the unique three-dimensional surface of Kimekomi, it becomes a presence-filled piece. The colorful pieces of Iwamizu create a worldview that matches the sound of the word "Kimekomi" written in Katakana script, harboring charm that keeps your eyes glued to her artworks. We had the opportunity to talk to Iwamizu about Kimekomi Art.

PROFILE

Asako Iwamizu

After building her career as a fashion designer, she started her activity as an artist since 2008, earning high acclaim both domestically and internationally. During that time, she traveled the world visiting fabric markets in various countries to cultivate her sensibility. She also actively uses materials such as used clothes and scrap materials, and presents artworks that sound the alarm about societal issues such as the current low-profit, excessive packaging, and the collapse of the fashion industry due to fast delivery. She is the creator of "Kimekomi Art," a refinement of the traditional Japanese technique of "Kimekomi." Her colorful and pop fun works also evoke a contemporary version of Japonism. She continues her circular artist activities, creating new communities through communication via art by actively holding workshops at events, not just displaying her works, as she travels around Japan.
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