Bingata patterns flying above you

Scarlet Birds, Crimson Sky

A forty foot long sheet of linen fabric hangs from the ceiling. On the fabric, there are hand-dyed logos of Japanese commercial snacks, tobacco brands and images taken from Okinawa’s post-war history, along with traditional domestic patterns. This hand-dye technique is called “Bingata” and it originated in Okinawa.

The tables made in the same dimensions as the fabric run across the room diagonally to the fabric above, and there are paper boxes of snacks, kleenex tissue papers and fast food. You may notice these are the stencil materials used to dye the patterns by seeing the reflections of the motifs cut out of the boxes.

These boxes and packages can be seen anywhere in Japan as they are everyday commercial items that are sold nationwide. This suggests that the history and the problems in Okinawa are not only of Okinawa but all over Japan.

Year:
2010
Material:
Bingata on linen, commercial packages, color pigment