Kingdom, 2022, 100 x 80.3 x 2.7 cm, silk embroidery on silk cloth
Embroidering the Light
February 18 (Fri) - March 5 (Sat), 2022
Noon - 6 PM Closed on Sundays, Mondays and public holiday (February 23)
* Please email us info@megumiogita.com if you have any enquiries about the artist or works.
* You may be asked to wait for admission when the gallery is crowded in order to prevent infection with COVID-19.
Amid the anxiety of the pandemic since 2020, the only certainty for me has become what I feel, think and imagine. I try to embroider all those invisible lights, so that I can go on, even in the dark, just as the ancients sailed by the stars.
- Aya Cagiu
We are pleased to present Aya Cagiu's solo exhibition "Embroidering the Light". She graduated from Tama Art University with a degree in sculpture in 2001, and has created and exhibited embroidery works ever since. In recent years she has established herself as an artist, exhibiting the works at Takamatsu Art Museum and Yokosuka Museum of Art.
In ancient times, embroidery was a symbol of protection against the evil, talisman or prayer for communities, families and individuals. Japan’s oldest known piece is the Tenjukoku Shucho Mandala, which was made in the Asuka period to mourn the death of Prince Shotoku in 622. As can be seen in the cave murals and tombs, painting and decoration were necessary for living with nature. However, in the age of mass production, embroidery as a means of giving form to such purity has utterly changed. Through each stitch of her work, Cagiu asks us to revisit the nature of prayer, which has now become a mere formality.
Cagiu has been searching for unique ways of expressing embroidery, which is often seen as a craft, but can possibly be art as well. The works are based on the sensibility and imagination nurtured by her relationship with nature, in a chaotic, materially and informationally saturated society today. In this exhibition, 21 of her mostly recent works, which she poured her heart and soul into, will be on display.
For safety reasons, the gallery staff wear masks, disinfect their fingers, clean and ventilate the space. We would appreciate your understanding and cooperation on the following points.
- Please wear a mask and disinfect your hands for visiting.
- Please keep a safe distance from other visitors.
- Please refrain from visiting if you are unwell such as fever of 37.5°C or higher, cold or taste disorder.
- Please refrain from visiting if you have someone who is infected with coronavirus at home, work or school.