Microseason: Rainbows Hide

WINTER

EARLY SNOW

RAINBOWS HIDE

22 - 26 November

During this time of year, the clouds play a strong role in the way sunlight and moonlight dance on the earth’s floor to create shadow. Shadow and light, together as a duo, are the most intangible of the primary heritage materials of Japan. However without these materials, I suspect that every single weaver, farmer, and carpenter will say that the texture of Japanese kurashi, to live, or to create living, would not be what it is today.

IN TEXTILE

In Kyoto-style fermented indigo dye, particles make a new home within the fibers of thread or fabric, and when those fibers are raised from the liquid to breathe in air for the very first time, the oxidization process turns the fibers into a spectrum of blue hues. Before the fibers evolve into a blue color however, like lightening, there is a brief moment, when the thread or fabric flashes a golden green color. This extremely ephemeral color has become known as asagi or shallow leek. We recognize this color in great thanks to shadow and light.

IN FOOD

Japanese tableware used to be made up of mostly wooden wares. These were coated with urushi tree sap. A process that takes months of layering and drying. Creating a sleek lacquered finish. In Japanese cookery, there is always negative space made available when food is plated. And this negative space, as well as the sheen of urushi tableware play into the shadow and light that is created by the composition of the ingredients.

IN HOME

Earthen walls made of fermented rice straw and seaweed, create a textured surface. When sunlight, moonlight, or more intentional lighting is placed in a room, the embossed and debossed surface create sporadic shadows. It is said that it is this display of organic shadow and light within a manmade space, that is calming for the human soul. In addition to Japanese earthen walls being practical and environmentally responsible construction material, they remain vital to tea houses and meditation rooms because of their positive affect on mental wellbeing.

Photo credit: Momoko Nakamura