Artist Shion Sugawara held her first solo exhibition in Tokyo this March. She's one of the youngest artists featured in this catalog. I first became acquainted with Sugawara late last year when Ikumi Kato, a discerning editor who regularly monitors the work of artists in the Suginami area, mentioned to me that she'd met a rather interesting artist. She embroiders people and animals using a straight-stitch sewing machine, each with their own unique facial expressions, sometimes grumpy and sometimes unfriendly, that immediately elicit a smile. Her series, which also served as the theme of her solo exhibition, depicts famous paintings by artists such as Van Gogh and Matisse with machine-stitched lines. While the poses and compositions remain the same, the work is transformed into a completely different world, like a monochrome image seen in a dream.Upon closer inspection, you'll notice thread pools in various places, which occur when the upper and lower threads are not synchronized—of course, this is intentional. By delicately adjusting the stitch density and thread tension, each character is given just the right amount of looseness, utilizing the random unevenness of the stitches.The solid areas of the design are repeatedly sewn together to create a raised, stiff texture, contrasting with the soft lines to reveal the richness of the thread, a truly exquisite touch. Coasters sold individually (not a set)Dimension: 4"x4"100% linenMade In Japan
