MIKA HORIE
AIR, FLOWERS AND COLOURS
Published by The(M) éditions, 2024
Book Size 24 x 17 cm
124 pages
Limited to 300 copies
Each copy has its own original and unique cyanotype cover.
Air, flowers and colors is Mika Horie's second artist book co-published by IBASHO & the(M) éditions.
For this book Horie immersed herself in nearly-forgotten traditions such as kimono-making, the tea ceremony, and even duck hunting. Particularly fascinated by the intricate beauty of the Obi and the entire kimono-making process, she met with artisans who specialize in crafting silk yarns and Obi. Over two months, she raised silkworms to gain a deeper understanding of the silk production process. During this time, she also experienced the enchanting world of native wildflowers and plants during her weekly tea ceremony practice. Her tea instructors shared profound Zen wisdom while discussing the seasonal decorations in the tea room, revealing the deep significance and beauty of each arrangement. These teachings enriched her creativity, inspiring fresh ideas and imagery she eagerly anticipated exploring.
Throughout this journey, she delved deeply into the rich and complex facets of Japanese culture, uncovering uncharted aspects of the island's history. She hopes that her newest book, “Air, Flowers, and Colors”, provides readers with an insightful glimpse into her profound connection to her identity and ancestral heritage.
Each copy of the book is different, for it has its own cyanotype print of a poetic scenery on handmade paper, which makes each book a unique experience. For the interior, the perception of the original is perceived by the artistic photography that almost makes it look like the original, and enhanced by the choices for ink and paper. The rough edges of the book emphasize the character of the handmade paper and its softness.
Air, flowers and colours is Mika Horie's second artist's book co-published by IBASHO and the(M) éditions.
For this book, Mika Horie delved into nearly forgotten traditions such as kimono making, tea ceremony, and even duck hunting. Particularly fascinated by the intricate beauty of the Obi and the entire kimono-making process, she met with artisans who specialized in silk thread and Obi making. For two months, she raised silkworms to better understand the silk production process. During this time, she also discovered the enchanting world of wildflowers and native plants during her weekly tea ceremony practice. Her tea instructors shared deep Zen wisdom as they discussed the seasonal decorations of the tea room, revealing the deeper meaning and beauty of each arrangement. These teachings enriched her creativity, inspiring new ideas and images that she was eager to explore.
Throughout this journey, she has delved into the rich and complex facets of Japanese culture, uncovering unexplored aspects of the island’s history. She hopes her latest book, “Air, Flowers, and Colours,” will give readers a glimpse into her deep connection to her ancestral identity and heritage.
Each copy of the book is different, as it has its own cyanotype print of a poetic landscape on handmade paper, making each book a unique experience. Inside, the perception of the original is ensured by the artistic photography that makes it almost look like the original, and reinforced by the choice of ink and paper. The rough edges of the book emphasize the character of the handmade paper and its softness .