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Artist exhibits smart embroidery to bring attention to craft

Swatches | January 1, 2025 | By:

Artist Hiroko Otake collaborated with &T, a new art brand created by embroidery equipment manufacturer Tajima, to create works for DESIGNART Tokyo 2024 in October. Artwork included Flow and Movement (above and below). The goal of &T is to raise the profile of embroidery. Image: Tajima
Flow and Movement. Conductive thread and LEDs on the reverse of the embroidered butterflies make them glow. Image: Tajima

The embroidery artwork of Hiroko Otake was a highlight of DESIGNART Tokyo 2024 in October. The exhibition featured three pieces showing butterflies in a variety of ways, from simplified forms in Butterfly Camouflage to intricately detailed in Circulation. The butterflies in the smart textile piece called Flow and Movement glow when touched, due to conductive thread on the bobbin and LEDs attached to the back, and the 3D effect of the stitching on Circulation makes it almost seem as if the insects’ wings are flapping.

Circulation. The embroidered butterflies have a 3D effect to look like they’re flapping. Image: Tajima

The nylon threads in the pieces are upcycled from fishing nets, with the artwork created on Tajima industrial embroidery machines. Butterfly Camouflage and Circulation also incorporate vegan leather.

Butterfly Camouflage. Image: Tajima

Tajima launched its embroidery art brand called &T in April to work with artists, with the goal of “reappraising the value of embroidery and exploring new ways of expression through it,” the company’s website says.

Tajima launched its embroidery art brand called &T in April to work with artists, with the goal of “reappraising the value of embroidery and exploring new ways of expression through it,” the company’s website says. Image: Tajima

Otake typically works in Japanese painting; these works are her first foray into embroidery. The initial collaboration came about when Tajima executives saw some of Otake’s works and imagined how they would look as embroidery pieces.

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