Obi cloth. Art installation. Kazuko FukumotoChris Conrad is a fibre artist who discovered the remarkable coloring properties of unripe persimmons on a trip to Japan.
Made from the fermented juice of unripe astringent persimmons, the color comes from the tannin molecules linking together and forming a coating. More than a coloring agent, kakishibu also has strengthening, antibacterial and waterproofing properties. Kakishibu was used in China and Korea, but reached its ultimate utilization in Japan. It was used as a wood preservative, waterproofer, insect repellent, folk medicine, and on washi (Japanese paper), fans, parasols, clothing and in sake production.
Conrad’s fascination with kakishibu, led her to write a book on the subject “Kakishibu: Traditional Persimmon Dye of Japan” Both the book and kakishibu dye are available on her website kakishibuii along with picture galleries and a forum for fibre artists experimenting with this unique and fascinating material.
Poplar Gallery.Online
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