Decay
This year, the challenge for the Fifteen by Fifteen quilt group is to explore the theme of Decay.
Decay is a vast and intriguing subject. Nearly everything in this world ages, deteriorates, and eventually disintegrates. While natural materials often follow a swift cycle of decay, some man-made materials degrade so slowly that it takes generations for the process to become evident.
As a textile artist, I chose to examine fabric decay—exploring the many ways it manifests and discovering creative solutions to extend the life of fabric, even as it begins to deteriorate.
For my first quilt, I focused on the wear and tear of fabrics. In today’s world, where we are inundated with an abundance of textiles, many people discard worn or torn fabrics, contributing to the growing issue of landfill waste. However, the Japanese tradition of boro offers a different perspective.
Boro (or boromono) translates to “rags” and refers to textiles from rural northern Japan that were repeatedly patched and mended to prolong their use. Rooted in the philosophy of mottainai—a deep respect for resources and regret over waste—boro emerged from economic and environmental necessity. Today, it has evolved into both an art form and a meditative practice.
In creating my quilt, I incorporated a worn-out quilting glove, fragments of a hand-embroidered tablecloth that had been used until it developed holes, and a piece of hand-woven linen towel. Interestingly, the tablecloth showed signs of earlier mending before it was discarded and eventually passed on to me.
Every element of the quilt is hand-stitched, honoring traditional boro techniques and embracing the beauty found in fabric decay and restoration.
9th European Textile Triennial
On February 9, 2025, the 9th European Quilt Triennial opened at the Max Berk Textile Collection in Heidelberg, Germany, and will be on display until May 4. I was fortunate not only to have my work accepted but also to attend the exhibition’s opening.
This show features 45 contemporary quilt and textile artworks from 11 countries, demonstrating that creativity, artistic inspiration, and timely social commentary are not limited to painting, sculpture, graphic design, or photography. A five-member international jury selected these high-caliber exhibits from over 130 submissions.
After its time at the Max Berk Textile Collection, the exhibition will travel to the St. Gallen Textile Museum in Switzerland, with further stops planned for the traveling showcase.
I initially had doubts about whether my quilt, Voice from the Past, would be accepted. It was created using a pair of heavily mended woolen socks that my daughter-in-law gave me, asking for a memory piece made from them—they had belonged to her father. For the background, I used two scarves: one linen and one silk, both dyed with rust and plants. I hand-stitched the background extensively before attaching the socks.
I cut the socks open to reveal the extent of the mending and discovered that they were knitted on just two needles instead of the usual four, with a seam running along one side. I displayed both sides on one of the socks to showcase this unique detail.
When I saw the full collection, I had to admit that my quilt blended seamlessly with the other works, as many were also created from recycled textiles.
Encouraged by the success of Voice from the Past being accepted into such a prestigious exhibition—and inspired by the Fifteen by Fifteen group’s focus on decay—I am determined to continue exploring the creative potential of recycled textiles.
Leave a Reply