On Thursday 12th March, our Derwent (Year 10) Textiles students journeyed to London to see the ‘Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk’ exhibition at Victoria and Albert Museum. This is a marvellous exhibition, featuring iconic costume of Japan from the 1660s to the present day.
With over 315 pieces on display, it reveals the sartorial, aesthetic and social significant of the garment, both in Japan and the rest of the world.
Our students spent a wonderful two hours in the exhibition, drawing, photographing and capturing the traditional and contemporary essence of the kimono whilst engaging is tasks such as identifying silhouettes, motifs and textiles techniques and figuring out how they could use them within their own work.
After lunch they then visited the Japanese section of the V&A and explored surface pattern designs within everything from Samurai armour and ceremonial tea drinking sets to ceramic jewelry boxes and religious garlands.
A very long day, but extremely worthwhile, as our students now have primary imagery, drawings and inspiration to start their new ‘Japanese Textiles’ project.
