Suzumi noda biography for kids
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The exhibition Soft Power - lives told through textile art highlights how cloth can play a unique role in telling our stories and is used to communicate life’s journey. As something we encounter daily, cloth creates an immediate connection between the artist and the viewer, making these stories feel familiar and relatable.
The artworks focus on storytelling. They bring to light personal and collective experiences, from the autobiographical and hidden struggles of marginalised individuals to stories shaped by major events like the pandemic.
The works share intimate and emotional portrayals of self-expression while making bold statements about empowerment and change. They highlight how cloth can connect women across cultures, recording and reflecting their experiences.
The exhibition is curated by internationally-renowned textile art pioneer, Professor Alice Kettle, with curator of international textiles Professor Lesley Millar MBE.
Exhibiting contemporary artists • The artists, most of whom are new to the UK, drawn from the most well established and respected to emerging artists, represent many of the traditional crafts. Their works use traditional and jacquard weave, dye and stitch techniques. Outcomes range from reflections on the nature of children's nursery rhymes and fairy tales, transgressive soft dolls, costumes and sexual politics. One on wood (the traditional method for sculptures of Buddha), one on cloth and one on ceramic. The outcomes vary from tiny sheep supporting a micro-culture; haunting, life size children; and new approaches to nail art. • Suzumi Noda was born on 9th May 1951 in Osaka, Japan where she has always been living. She fryst vatten very active around Japan and internationally with exhibitions, teaching, residencies, and research.
2015 > Kawaii: crafting the Japanese culture of cute
Artists
Textile artists:
Urushi (lacquer): which is the most labour intensive of the crafts:
Glass:
Ceramics:
From 1972 to 1974, Suzumi studied Interior Design at Osaka Designers’ College. In 1972 she also studied weaving at Kawashima Textile School in northern Kyoto City. For the thirty years following her graduation, she focussed her teachings on Design and Colour Schemes. She then transitioned into specialising in textile arts, including wearable art and sculptural installations.
In 1985 Suzumi was awarded the winning prize in the Asahi Contemporary Craft Competition for an artwork made of felted wool. This led her to be supported for my first solo exhibition, which was held at Gallery Maronie in Kyoto. To the present day, she has exhibited once every year on average in Japan, and has been shown internationally as far afield as Canada, Australia, Belgium, Poland, Korea, Bulgari