What Good Readers Do
While integrating my own process of reading I chose to look at and "read" the above work of contemporary artist Takashi Iwasaki, a contemporary embroidery artist.
Additionally, I read an article discussing the artists work, accompanied by an interview with the artist found here: https://www.textileartist.org/takashi-iwasaki
Lastly, I read a brief history of textile production made available by the met found here:
I found that I feel more comfortable "reading" a work of art before hearing the work discussed by the artist. Allowing my imagination to spiral and twist around a story I start constructing based on my own experience. In the case of the above artwork, the swirling, \ delight of a day spent gobbling up a dizzying amount of sugar at the balloon fiesta, where my vision blurs, and all I can see is the vibrant floating shapes that cloud my entire line of vision. The way the colors bounce and blend, watching the patterns stack upon on another. I particularly like taking grand leaps of faith in reading a work of art and then hearing the artist discuss the work as his own version of storytelling. That these embroideries are his own diary, making links to the historical notion of embroidery as telling grand tales and epic battles. I notice myself pulling links together, searching for connection, a common thread to tie my reading together.
I am always scanning for meaning, for the powerful way words can flow out of the mind of an artist. I find myself asking what the meaning of the text is why is it of importance to take this in, and what to leave behind.
In a historical context one article states, "Embroiderers have almost complete freedom to create either linear patterns or flowing pictorial compositions; the needle and thread are not bound by a geometric foundation, as on a loom." This freedom and playful quality is so evident in Takashi's works, and his writings. Threads, links, works, words all being sewn together to build meaning and tell a story.
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