Capturing Memories and Sceneries on Ultra-thin Fabric
Shibori dyeing artist Miona Shimizu

Interviewed by Haruko Kohno
Photos courtesy of Miona Shimizu

Countless small grains are clumped together into a mass, while sphere-like objects made of thin cloth are placed gently on a platform. The former looks like some deep-sea creature and the latter perhaps, a visualization of wind.
— What could these be?
These works that conjure various images in our minds are crafted by Miona Shimizu, using the traditional Japanese tie-dye technique called shibori-zome. When one hears the word ‘shibori-zome,’ the first thing that comes to mind is probably kimono or yukata fabric known for the soft, bumpy texture. So, it’s surprising to see objects made from shibori-zome that have such a contemporary feel to them. When we interviewed Miona about her creative activities, we found out how she is expanding the traditional realm of shibori-zome with a unique, fresh sensibility.
Shibori-zome is a dyeing technique that begins with one of three methods to resist-dye fabrics: binding in small pinches, making a running stitch and pulling the thread so as to make pleats, or clasping between wooden boards. Miona was still in high school when she became fascinated with this craft.
“I was studying wax-resist dyeing at an art high school in Osaka, but I didn’t find it rewarding because what I wanted to express on fabric would come out exactly as I had imagined. But one day, I got to visit a shibori-zome studio as part of my training and I thought it was interesting how patterns show up unexpectedly and you discover things through the process,” she recalls.
Miona continued her education at the Hiroshima City University Faculty of Arts, where she further explored the art of shibori-zome. She began experimenting with the blending and bleeding of dyes, and pursued expressive possibilities by shaping flat sheets of fabric into three-dimensional form.
“I once took part in a project to revitalize vacant houses in Miyajima (in Hiroshima prefecture) and I proposed to exhibit a work using shibori techniques. I used about 400 meters of fabric to create a work that represented the Seto Inland Sea inside a vacant house. When I made this piece, I felt that the materials, technique, and space were all in sync. That’s when I thought, ‘this is it.’”
Enlightened by the craft, Miona started to devote her time solely on shibori-zome. While still a university student, she gradually began to receive offers from companies for product planning and to exhibit work at galleries.
“I really felt that this was going to be my thing and so every project that I was offered became an encouragement. I just went along with the flow and devoted myself to shibori-zome.”

Currently, Miona creates objects, accessories, bags and other items. What is distinctive about her craft is that in order to achieve the shape she has in mind, she uses ultra-thin fabric, which is inherently difficult to handle in shibori-zome. She says that her current expression became possible after much trial and error.
In order to maximize the beauty unique to shibori-zome, which is to repetitively tie or pinch a single piece of cloth, Miona always keeps in mind to create each work from one piece of cloth. It’s a policy she sticks to, which adversely enables her unique expressions to unfold.

She also uses several single kanji characters, or equivalent terms in English, as thematic keywords for her works. Take “Grain,” for example. Miona binds pre-dyed fabric around many small glass beads, then heats the fabric in a pressure cooker, which “imprints” the protrusions onto the surface. Once the thread is unraveled and the beads are removed, translucent “grains” appear. These are folded into objects or fabricated into pierced earrings.
The resulting grains may evoke bubbles or breaths…Miona seems to be giving shape to things that are elusive and ephemeral.


“Float” is a series of large silk-based work using the mokume-shibori technique. This involves using a running stitch, after which the threads are pulled together. Split bamboo is threaded through the rim of the dyed fabric, the elasticity of which creates a complex three-dimensional form. These works are shown as stand-alone objects or as installations hung in a corner of a room.


“Landscape” is another series of large-scale works with patterns that are made using the itajime-shibori technique. Here, the fabric is folded and compressed between wooden boards. Miona creates a scenery-like tapestry with a light sense of rhythm using this antique technique. The work with blue circular patterns was created for an exhibition during the rainy season.

And finally, “Tie” is a playful series that stems from the mame-ire shibori technique, which involves tying small objects on the underside of the fabric. Usually the pinches are untied after the dyeing, but here, Miona focuses solely on the process of tying, and the objects (in this case, beans) are left attached to the fabric, and made into bags.
While Miona spends her days engaging quietly in her craft, she’s also an active mountain-climber and enjoys taking photographs outdoors.
Miona explains, “I turn to nature for inspiration. I think it’s a reaction to growing up in the city, where I couldn’t spot a single mountain wherever I looked. But I often realize later that I’ve been influenced by what I saw. I guess I’m subconsciously picking up the sceneries around me.”

In fact, when Miona thinks a photograph she took is quite good, she prints them on ultra-thin fabric, binds them, and then applies heat for shape memory. These works mark a complete departure from the act of dyeing and focus solely on printing, which result in highly experimental expressions.
“I think photographs are vivid and easy to understand, but once I tie them into small grains, they become somewhat vague. It’s hard to say in words, but what I have in mind is something like bits or fragments of memories that have become ambiguous over the course of time.”
Sceneries and memories do fade. And yet, at one point in time, we held them in our hearts for sure. Perhaps Miona is trying to capture these fleeting, but precious things through the art of shibori-zome.
“I’m attracted to things that are elusive and hard to capture. This is why I’m also interested in photography. I guess I want to fixate form and patterns onto fabric because there are things that I want to capture. Come to think of it, shape memory is literally making ‘memories,’ too, isn’t it? (laughs)”
Miona hopes to continue exploring the art of shibori-zome by ardently studying fabrics, working with her hands, and experimenting with patterns and shapes.
“I really think that nothing can beat work done with the hands. My work can never be mass produced, but I hope that people are convinced of the beauty of handcraft by looking at my art.”
Miona Shimizu
Born in Osaka. Studied textile dyeing and weaving at the Faculty of Arts of Hiroshima City University. Using various shibori-zome techniques, Miona creates a wide range of work, from wearable accessories to dynamic sculptural installations. Her work can be seen at gallery exhibitions and purchased through her online store.
Website:
https://mionashimizu.com
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/miona_shimizu/
-------------------------------------------------------
Miona Shimizu Exhibition
April 5 (Sat) – 20 (Sun)
gallery jaja
1-15-16, Tsuchido, Onomichi City, Hiroshima, Japan
+81(0)848-29-3318
Open from 11am to 7pm (Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
*Any changes in the hours will be announced on the NEWS page.
-------------------------------------------------------