Oh the beauty! of applique works by Ayako Miyawaki (1905-1999), are just a joy to see, they make my heart sing.
A retrospective exhibition of Miyako (1905-1995), "120th year of birth: Miyako's art: I saw it, cut it, pasted it," is on at Tokyo Station Gallery (Marunouchi, Tokyo) until March 16th.
This is my "Memory Skirt." It started as a practice piece for this little 5 year old boy. My mum told me I was not to use a needle on the furniture or her best curtains anymore! đ
So I got given an old grey school skirt that one of the neighbours was throwing out. I was told to use that for practice.
A few years later I left home I got friends to sign my skirt and draw a couple of doodles that I stitched. Over the years I added a few events like music festivals, trips abroad and when I went to Shanghai for the World Special Olympics in 2007 they all got stitched reminders.
All 4 of my children's names are stitched into the fabric, an old Irish 2p coin is on there too, to mark the change to the Euro.
There are so many memories in amongst those threads.
Way back at the start my grandmother gave me some advice that has stuck with me ever since and I know it has influenced my life.
"Make memories Owen, when you reach my age, they are the most precious things you can have."
Over 50 years later I had just the waist band left to do and then it was done. Maybe I will squeeze another memory in there one day đ. For now it hangs in my studio and I am reminded everyday of so many wonderful people, times and places.
Now, I am never in a hurry to finish a piece and know it is the time spent and process undergone that is important to me, not the finishing line.
I think my kids know most of the main stories attached to this skirt, but I do intend to write a few of them down for when I eventually become just another one of those memories too.
I find it difficult to capture it all in a photograph but I asked a friend to model it for me and I will also add a couple of close ups.
The quality of stitchin varies! Please remember this started out as a practice piece and a safe space for a young boy to make as many mistakes as it took to learn to stitch. We all have to start somewhere and I started here. Owen Kelly
