Traditional Japanese Indigo Dyeing

Draw your own favourite patterns, pictures, or designs on indigo-dyed fabric using a discharge-dyeing technique and make your own TENUGUI (Japanese style towel)!

In this workshop, participants will work with an indigo-dyed tenugui (traditional Japanese hand towel) and use a
technique called discharge dyeing to create their own designs by removing the indigo colour from the fabric.
Discharge dyeing is a method in which a special paste is applied to already dyed fabric to remove colour. 

First, participants draw their design or pattern on paper and cut out the areas they want to appear white.  This stencil is
then placed on the fabric, and the discharge paste is applied. The areas where the colour is removed become
lighter or white. This technique has traditionally been used in some patterns found on Japanese kimono and
yukata.

Through experiencing the traditional Japanese techniques of indigo dyeing and discharge dyeing, we hope
participants will also enjoy the creative process of expressing their own designs and artwork.

About Indigo Dyeing

Aizome (indigo dyeing) is a dyeing technique that uses natural plants and has been practiced in Japan for over
1,000 years.  From around the 1600s, it was widely used for samurai armour, and during the Edo period it became
deeply integrated into the daily lives of ordinary people. The distinctive indigo blue has since come to
represent Japan and is still known today as “Japan Blue.”

The popularity of indigo dyeing lies not only in its beautiful deep blue colour, but also in its functional qualities,
such as insect-repellent, antibacterial, and deodorizing effects. It was also traditionally believed to ward off evil
spirits.

About the artist
KYOKO KUROTAKI
黑瀧京子
ARTIST
Born in Japan
1989 - 1999  Live and study in England
2000 - 2023 Move to Japan  
2023 ~ Move to Netherland, Amsterdam

Education
BA Honours Fine Art Sculpture, Loughborough University, UK

Exhibition
1994年 Entered “Box Art” Exhibition, Nottingham Castle Gallery UK
1996年 Group Exhibition “Sculpture at Buddon Wood” UK
 1998年 Group Exhibition “Sculpture XCV3 Exhibition ” Dioramas Arts Center , London UK
 1999年 Solo Exhibition “KYOKO KUROTAKI“ Chichester UK 
2004年 Art works used for the theatre catalogue of “Headwig and The Angry Inch”  
2007年 Solo Exhibition “KYOKO KUROTAKI“ Gallery eclipse art Tokyo
2008年 Entered Seventh Spiral Independent Creators’s Festival
2008年 Solo Exhibition “Release Yourself” Studio + Lotus8 Tokyo
2009年 Group Exhibition Sky Walker, xerosen art show RedBull Art “Akika Art Competition “
2024年 Solo Exhibition " BEYOND THE EMOTION " Studio Saphatipark, Amsterdam NL

Socials
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Website
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Tickets for € 35.00 are sold online in our ticket shop under Subproducts. They will remain available until sold out or until 30 minutes prior to the start of the event.

If tickets are still available online during the festival you can also order them at the Registration desk and pay cash or using a card.