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| "Boro, Threads of life" - Somerset House, London, April 2014 |
Reflecting about the significance of exhibitions opens to review them once they are closed.
They stay as documents living in catalogues and archives, that means extending the life
or existence of exhibitions.
They stay as documents living in catalogues and archives, that means extending the life
or existence of exhibitions.
This article is about a show called Boro, Threads of life, at Somerset House, London 2014.
It was a beautiful, delicate, and knowledgeable exhibit featuring a carefully chosen collection
of pieces of "Japanese indigo patched textiles ..... to become exquisite objects of abstract art",
as it is stated in leaflet's text.
The installation was almost monastic with a clear intention of drive the interest to the pieces.
The display space was in plain white walls, with one only distracting element (apart from
the architectural features) being the hangers, that talk about the origin and use of some of
the pieces: clothing and wearing.
Boro was the name for a a practice in rural Japan some centuries ago when peasants who could
not afford silk for clothing, would stitch and reuse their cheap fabrics, in sleeping covers and
clothing until they were almost unrecognizable. These pieces speak about a society who would
look for utilitarian solutions.
The title of the show offer a real meaning of the pieces in display, they are not a luxury commodity,
they are a labour of necessity, and they tell stories of lives lived. These patched pieces are a tribute
to the modest inventiveness of human nature when it comes to necessity. But here most of them
are shown losing some of their meaning, they look more work of art more than real garments.
The visit offers a moment of indulgence for is the aesthetic attributes of the pieces what captures
the attention at first and then comes the understanding of the origin and value of the pieces.
Some images as a visit to the exhibit.
they are a labour of necessity, and they tell stories of lives lived. These patched pieces are a tribute
to the modest inventiveness of human nature when it comes to necessity. But here most of them
are shown losing some of their meaning, they look more work of art more than real garments.
The visit offers a moment of indulgence for is the aesthetic attributes of the pieces what captures
the attention at first and then comes the understanding of the origin and value of the pieces.
Some images as a visit to the exhibit.
