Contemporary Art Gallery

Sudo Reiko: Making NUNO Textiles

Comprehensive Large-Scale Solo Exhibition Presents the creative journey of Textile Designer Reiko Sudo and the textile design studio “Nuno”.

This exhibition presents the creative journey of textile designer Reiko Sudo and the textile design studio Nuno which Sudo leads. Nuno has been at the forefront of the world in the field of textile design, combining traditional Japanese craftsmanship with the most innovative technologies of the times, incorporating unconventional materials, and addressing the issue of sustainability in the industry. Through multimedia installations and a wealth of documents, this exhibition provides a rare behind-the-scenes look into textile production, including collaborations with crafts workers and factories throughout Japan and efforts to expand the possibilities of materials. In addition to providing a comprehensive overview of Nuno’s activities, the exhibition includes a large-scale installation that draws on the potential of Art Tower Mito’s exhibition space to bring attention to the diverse possibilities of textiles and arouse feelings of delight and curiosity among viewers.

The exhibition Sudo Reiko: Making NUNO Textiles was conceived and hosted by the Centre for Heritage, Arts and Textile in Hong Kong in 2019 before travelling to various locations in Europe. In Japan, following the Marugame Genichiro-Inokuma Museum of Contemporary Art, the exhibition will finally arrive at the Contemporary Art Gallery, Art Tower Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture, where Sudo was born and raised.

Additionally, the installation Koinobori features colourful koinobori carp banners made of original Nuno textiles that swim　across Art Tower Mito's expansive exhibition space. Designed by exhibition designer Adrien Gardère, the installation has captivated viewers around the world, including at the National Art Center, Tokyo (2018), Musée Guimet in France (2014), and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (2008).
In the Contemporary Art Gallery and Plaza designed by Arata Isozaki, carp banners delight and inspire viewers.
In addition, artisans in Mito City have revived the Mito black dyeing technique, which originated in the 17th century Mito Domain, to create special koinobori for this exhibition.

Production Cooperation: Otaniya Dyeing Factory

Photo by Masayuki Hayashi

Reiko Sudo

Profile

Born in Ishioka, Ibaraki Prefecture. Design Director, Nuno Co., Ltd. Professor Emeritus, Tokyo Zokei University. Since 2008, textile design advisor to Ryohin Keikaku, Tsuruoka Textile Industry Cooperative, Yamagata Prefecture, As corporation and others. Since 2016, served on Ryohin Keikaku’s Advisory Board. Wielding a vast array of techniques and technologies ranging from traditional Japanese dyeing and weaving to contemporary high-tech textile processes, Sudo has created works included in the permanent collections of MoMA; the Metropolitan Museum of Art; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; the Victoria & Albert Museum; The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo; and many other institutions worldwide.

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