Hiroko Takahashi — How to wear a kimono, an exhibition at CFOC Paris until 9 November 2013

Hiroko Takahashi was born in 1977 in Japan. Completed her Ph.D. in dyeing at Tokyo University of the Arts in 2008. She puts circles and straight lines freely and creates modern patterns. She is engaged in wide variety of creative works, especially Kimonos, while studying Japanese traditional craftsmanship and patterns.

Activity intensions
Creating opportunities to break the stereotypes and assumptions of the everyday lifestyle, and to be able to view the nature of things. Together with the people who are involved in creations that support the Japanese culture and lifestyle, She continues to create a vibe to the makers, sellers, users and also the marketplace by creations of the new generation. For Japanese to be able to face the culture of their own country and to create next generations who will set out to the world with the pride of being Japanese through the recognition of the values lying behind the culture. When I am creating, I focus on my role as a creator. Certainly, creation by ignoring the trends or market needs will not benefit the development of the economy; also the creation will be considered simply a product to fulfill designer´s egotism disregarding the consideration of continuity as a creator. However, there will be no market without any “creations”. Thus the thought is to create something of the times to inspire the society. In order to do this, activities are based on the idea to work close with the professional craftsmen or to be familiar with the techniques and understand the history or the meaning lying behind the “creation” itself to influence the creators through the careful observation of the cultural backgrounds. Furthermore, considering the “creations” generated by this process not only as products but also as the elements of presentations to carry out the intentions. Or alternatively to view the creations as materials; trying to explore various kinds of expression to provoke the imaginations towards the nature or background of the “creations”. Circles and straight lines The patterns created by Hiroko Takahashi are all composed of limited components, circles and straight lines. This is to explore the maximum possibilities by utilizing the minimum elements while suggesting a metaphor of enjoying simple life, implying that in the current era when everything is easily accessible, one could still lead a happy life without being over demanding. The earth and the moon are in round shapes. It is also said that the very first drawing by human being is a circle. Circles have been well utilized as motifs in design in any time beyond regions and cultures. The potentialities of the well-accepted “circles” are inestimable.