Helsinki, 11.6.-28.9.2008




The Japanese-born artist and designer Fujiwo Ishimoto (born 1941) began his career by studying graphic art and design at the Tokyo University of Arts. After graduating in 1964, he worked as a commercial artist for the Ichida Company. Ishimoto's interest in Scandinavian textile art led him to Finland in 1970. He was first employed by the Decembre company founded by Ristomatti Ratia, where he designed, among other work, display windows and shoulder bags. After four years with Decembre he became a designer of printed fabrics at Marimekko, where he went on to create some 300 prints. These works include textile collections depicting landscapes and the weather, such Mättäillä, Maisema, Sydäntalvi and Kesästä kesään.

Fujiwo Ishimoto began to work in ceramics in 1989. His interest in clay as a material stems from his childhood in Ehime, a traditional pottery area of Japan. In 1989-1990 he worked at the Art Department of the Arabia company as a visiting artist and designer, and in 1991 he studied ceramic work in Omaha in the United States under the direction of ceramist Jun Kaneko. Fujiwo's best-known articles in utility ware are the Kamelia candle lantern and Heikki Orvola's Illusia dinner service, for which he designed a printed pattern with a poppy motif.

The themes of Fujiwo's works focus on nature, which is present in landscape and plant motifs. In recent years he has also worked with flower themes. The flower (hana) has varied meanings in Japanese culture. It can represent, for example, the beauty of well-known women, the success of a theatrical performance, an actor's level of training or maturity as an artist. Various species of flowers also characterize or classify the character traits of different people. Flowers have also inspired many poets. At its noblest, the meaning of the flower is expressed in ceremonial tea art (chanoyu). A flower placed in the tokonama alcove, the place of honour of a tearoom, symbolizes the season of the moment in question, the time of day, the weather and the tea-master's state of mind. The flower emphasizes the significance and unique nature of the moment.

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