Blueprint
2024, for Tagasode
Three kimonos, cyanotype on kimono lining, cotton fabric, thread, sequins, magnets
50” x 44”
The focal point of this piece is a cyanotype of a photo I took in college of me, my mom and my grandmother. The photo is printed on silk from the inner lining of a kimono, framed by strips of two other kimonos and a frayed obi belt. Along the inside of the Kimono hang large sequins – tokens of glittering color I would use in my early girlhood to bedazzle crafts to make them more “me.” When I think of my family and lineage, I think of the strong willed, creative, wildly hilarious and colorful women I am so lucky to be related to. They have shaped me, nurtured me, encouraged me. I wanted to create a piece that celebrates them and the ongoing complexities and questions that come with being part Japanese.
To be part Japanese as a white presenting person is something I am constantly trying to respect and understand. As a young art student, I took traditional looking portraits of myself, my mom, and my grandmother in kimonos in an attempt to create dialogue between my lineage, my family, and my art practice. In the center of one photo we sit in order from oldest to youngest, most Japanese to least. We’re in Kimonos at my aunt’s house posing for the camera – behind the scenes, we’re struggling to wrap our obis and laughing together. Understanding my Japanese heritage is something I will likely always be navigating – so when my grandmother asked me to participate in Tagasode, it felt like a wonderful opportunity to further connect.
