UEDA Kyoko
Textiles
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artist statement
Artist Statement
Kyoto textile artist, UEDA Kyoko, employs a textile historically used in Japan as a reinforcement on paper stencils for creating elaborate dyed patterns for kimono. Kinusha is a stiff, open, loosely woven sheer silk that lends itself to UEDA's inspired layering for her tapestries and textiles sculptures. Her distinctive blends of colors are produced from traditional natural dyes such as persimmon tannin, onion, indigo and various mineral pigments, as well as from modern chemical dyes. UEDA graduated from the Craft Department of Osaka University of Arts in 1977, and began her career as a weaver of brocade in Kyoto's famous Nishijin textile industry. After working at Iseki Kazuyo Dyeing Studio in Kyoto, she has established her own studio in Kyoto. The casual machine stitching and the unfinished edges of her work lend an organic, improvisational quality to her both her tapestries and sculptures. Her strong sculptural forms are produced by combining many meters of kinusha in several layers which are sewn in a series of consecutive darts for strength. UEDA says that her tapestries and sculptures are metaphors for the varying cumulative experiences that human beings have in the course of their lives and how they have spent their time. The translucent quality of her richly layered work suggest our ability to "read" and comprehend those layers of human experience. UEDA Kyoko has been exhibited her work in numerous solo and group exhibitions in Japan, Korea, Los Angeles, London, Hungary, Belgium, Poland, and Ireland, and is a Juror for competitions by the Japan Craft Design Association.
profile
Profile
| 1992–1983 | Work at Iseki Kazuyo Dyeing Atelier as an assistant |
| Work on Osaka Seifu Gakuen Ryokai Mandara | |
| 1982–1977 | Worked as a Tsuzure weaver in Nishijin, Kyoto |
| 1977 | B.F.A., Osaka University of Arts, Osaka |
solo exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
| 2010 | AC Gallery, Tokyo |
| Gallery Kaede, Osaka | |
| 2009 | Gallery Art Box, Osaka (also in '06) |
| Gallery Bankosha, Tokyo ('04) | |
| 2008 | Gallery Gallery, Kyoto ('03, '95) |
| Textile works, Gallery Nishikawa, Kyoto ('04) | |
| 2007 | Wacoal Ginza Art Space, Tokyo ('04, '02) |
| Ueda Kyoto, Gion Konishi, Kyoto ('01) | |
| 2006 | Layered Works, Gallery Maronie, Kyoto |
| Gallery Syukkonsou, Fukuoka ('03, '04, '05) | |
| 2005 | Gallery Piare, Himeji |
| Gallery Platz, Hamamatsu | |
| Gallery Notion, Kunitachi | |
| Gallery Marufuku, Kyoto | |
| Gallery Malle, Tokyo | |
| 2004 | Textile and Installation, Muse Nanshu, Kamakura |
| 2003 | The Cravats-Textiles, ESPACE446, Osaka |
| Gallery Kuge, Nara | |
| Ecru+HM, Tokyo ('00) | |
| Gallery Yui, Tokyo ('01) | |
| 1999 | Forms of Weaving Textiles, Gallery Sunbeam, Osaka |
| 1995 | Weaving Ornaments, Gallery Miyazaki Teibon Space, Osaka |
| 1993 | Forms of Textiles, Enfair Ginza, Tokyo |
| 1992 | Textiles and Installations, ARTE FACT, Tokyo |
| Started to work on Kinusa as the primary material | |
| 1992 | Forms of Textiles, Gallery Umu, Kyoto ('90) |
| 1992 | Neckware, Aigura, Nara |
group exhibitions
Major Group Exhibitions
| 2010 | 2.5 dimentions–consideration for 2.5 painting, Gallery Maronie, Kyoto |
| 2009 | The 9th International Mini-Textiles Triennial, MUSEES ANGERS, Museum Jean Lurcat et de la Tapisserie contemporaine, France |
| SOFA New York (also in '08) | |
| Fiberworks Exchange Exhibition, Balta Gallery, Lithuania | |
| 2008 | SOFA Chicago ('07) |
| International Contemporary Textile Biennale, Kherson, Ukurine | |
| International Fiber Work Exhibition, Fukuoka Asiam Museum, Fukuoka | |
| Exhibition for JCDA members, Fashion Museum, Kobe | |
| Duo Exhibition, Ueda Kyoko and Okuno Yoko, Hanamitsu, Sakai Textile Exhibition, Roof Gallery, Tokyo / Tamagawa Takashimaya, Tokyo | |
| Duo Exhibition, Ueda Kyoko and Matsuyama Mayumi, AC Gallery, Tokyo | |
| 2007 | 12 International Tapestry Triennale, Loaz, Poland |
| 2003 | International Craft Biennale, Chongjyu, Korea |
| 2003 | 1St International Miniature Textile Triennale Collations, Szombathelyi, Hungary |
| 2002 | WABITEN, Clotworthy Art Centre, Ireland |
| 13 selected Tapestry artists exhibition, International Design Centre, Design Gallery, Nagoya | |
| JCDA Belgium Exhibition, VISO Gallery, Belgium | |
| Japan Bulgaria Contemporary Textile Exhibition, Bulgaria | |
| 2001 | Japanese Contemporary Crafts-OUTLINE, Gallery Flow, London, Bulgaria |
| Using Ibigawa washi Paper, Copperplate print and dyeing-weaving, Shimane Art Museum Gallery, Shimane | |
| 2000 | 13th Textile Miniature Biennale, Szombathelyi, Hungary |
| 1996 | Contemporary Japanese Craft and Jewelry Design, Japanese American Cultural and Community Centre, CA |
awards
Awards
| 2008 | Bronze Award, International Contemporary Textile Biennale, Kherson, Ukurine |
| 2004 | Grand Prize, Japan Craft Competition |