Teachigi Resistance

2024

Aunt Setsuko Toshi introduced me to the complexity of Amami Oshima Tsumugi that inspired this work painted entirely with teachigi (yeddo hawthorne) bark from uncle Yoichiro Fujioka’s garden on Tokunoshima (“Island of Benevolence”). Here “resistance” has two layers of meaning, one from the kashirii (kasuri, dye patterns) that are utilized to weave multivalent meanings into fabric for approximately 13 centuries. In sericulture traditions, these patterns are achieved by selectively dyeing segments of fabric to express motifs ranging from sea life such as urchins, botanic shapes including wisteria and toy windmills from everyday play. The second layered meaning of “resistance” refers to the spirit of islanders to protect the island’s natural heritage and relaxed lifestyle. In 2010 more than half of the island’s population assembled in Kametoku Port to demonstrate against the proposed U.S. base relocation from Futenma. This artwork weaves placards that resist militarism together with patterns that resist dyes to paint a bright future.