
19 Sep Hiroyuki Shindo Showing us the Breathtaking Beauty of Indigo Textiles
“Indigo has a universal appeal and a history of being used in textiles as a mystical color.” Hiroyuki Shindo, one of the world’s pre-eminent indigo artists, is bringing new life into this ancient craft, using venerable techniques to produce his fascinating contemporary indigo works.
For more than thirty years Shindo has lived and worked in Kita, a tiny rural village in the mountains of northern Kyoto prefecture. His over 200 years old farmhouse includes his workshop as well as the gallery area.
“Unlike other large museum collections, this one started when I was a poor art student exploring flea market in search of traditional indigo textiles.”
Over the years, Shindo has created a stunning collection which is displayed in the Little Indigo Museum on the second floor of his house.
Downstairs, in his gallery area, he stores cardboard boxes of traditional Japanese clothing for study and inspiration.
He has exhibited his works at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, as well as at museums in Canada, Holland and the UK.
You can watch him working on his indigo creations in this fascinating documentary about five Japanese contemporary fiber artists in the cedar forests near Kyoto, Japan: