Dialogue - Yuko Ninh Hung -
Fabric artist Yuko Renxige has her own atelier in Hangzhou, China, where she uses antique fabrics to tailor each garment by hand and with a sewing machine.
The creators, Kigaku and Yuko, are a married couple.
Kika is mainly in charge of visual creation such as dyeing, production management and photography, while Yuko is in charge of making the clothes, including hand sewing.
When I put on a Ren Hung Yuko garment for the first time, I felt a comfortable sensation as if it was against my skin.
Why is he drawn to antiques, why does he use high-quality natural fabrics such as scraps and old cloth, why does he insist on plant dyeing and finish each garment individually?
With the help of a live Japanese-Chinese interpreter, we were able to listen carefully to the two men as they carefully chose their words.
The appearance and beauty of things can only be revealed by the passage of time
The two, who had been interested in clothing making and antiques since their teenage years, met while attending university at the China Academy of Art.
I came across the word "antiques" when I was looking for old fabrics to make clothes.
In China, the concept of antiques - rather than valued antiques - is not widely known, so when he learned of the idea of giving new life to worn tools, he felt a sense of sympathy.
Yuko : Since ancient times, in China, people have used natural materials that grow indigenously in the land to make everyday items. They are grateful for the blessings they receive from nature, and they make an effort to use things with care, sewing and repairing them. Old objects and fabrics contain traces of time and memories that emerge from contact with things. We are attracted to the appearance and beauty that can only be revealed by the passage of time, and we want to express this in the clothes we make.
I want to use natural materials and make each piece individually, within my reach.
After graduating from college, the two went their separate ways.
Kika worked at a gallery showcasing tableware by Japanese artists for about a year. Yuiko was in charge of pattern making for clothes at a clothing company in Shanghai. As she continued working there, she developed a desire to "use natural materials and create clothes one by one, within the reach of my own hands," and after working there for a year, she returned to Hangzhou.
The two, who have much in common when it comes to the things they like, became independent as "Ninkiga Yuko" at the age of 24. Looking back, they recall their days of working with the threads and fabrics they had on hand, repeatedly teaching themselves how to dye, and creating things with a single mind.
Yuko : I touch the material with my hands, and proceed with the work, consulting with my body and my mind as I go along to see if it's okay. If it's a part that will come into contact with the human body, I check with my own hand's resistance or pain, and then I weave the shape and form of the object as if checking with my "inner nature."
No matter how much the times change, I believe there are some things that never change.
Their ideas are steadily spreading as they post on China's largest social media platforms, Weibo and WeChat, and hold repeated exhibitions within the country.
Even under such circumstances, the two say that there is still little understanding in China about natural materials, which, unlike synthetic fibers, tend to fade easily.
Hunger : Making clothes from rags and scraps, and plant dyeing using natural materials, may be disappearing due to the wave of industrialization. I believe that there are some things that never change, no matter how much the times, systems, or economies change, and I want to continue making clothes by listening closely to the materials.
Continue regardless of country or place
This will be the second time that "Nin Higashi Yuuko" has been exhibited in Japan, but the first time at Utsushiki.
There are many things that can only be conveyed by touching and handling the item. When you put on the clothes on display at the exhibition, you will notice that the lining threads are carefully sewn to prevent them from rubbing against your wrist.
Hunger : Just like this exhibition at Utsushiki and the encounters with the visitors, we would like to continue working together with people who share our thoughts and who we get along with, regardless of country or place.
After our conversation , listening to the two of them, we realize that whether the starting point is clothing, Japan, or China, the destination is the creator's feelings that are important. Even if we cannot communicate directly in language, the "feelings that an object holds" transcend borders and materials and reach the hearts of those who wear them. The next exhibition at Utsushiki is scheduled for December 2020. I can't wait for it to happen.
Interviewer and writer: Yoshiaki Ono
Yuko Ninhga Art Exhibition
We will be holding an exhibition of works by Yuko Ren, who is based in Hangzhou, China.
When I first met them, the clothes they were wearing were amazing and cool.
When I asked where it was made, they said they made it themselves.
I immediately ordered one for myself.
They are from different countries, have different environments in which they grew up, have seen different fashions, and have different cultural and historical backgrounds.
There are things that only they can create.
I love clothes, graduated from a fashion school, and used to work as a stylist.
I think I have been able to see the trends and backgrounds of street fashion, vintage clothing, and fashion in my own way.
As I travel abroad, I wonder what the fashion in my own country is like, even though it is based on Japanese clothing.
Not fashion based on imported American or European values.
Every day I explore what an outfit based on Eastern aesthetics and culture is like.
When I visited their studio in Hangzhou, China, I was struck by a new sensation.
It's not just nostalgia, but the antiques are displayed tastefully.
And above all, this exhibition was made possible by seeing their work.
He has a deep love for antiques and Japan, and finds beauty in old fabrics such as rags and sake bags.
Come enjoy the new sensations of the new generation of foreigners.
