Kumiko work is a traditional technique of weaving precise patterns by manually assembling thin boards with "cuts" or "mortises" in them, without using nails.
Kumiko work used in fixture decoration has a long history, appearing as early as the Asuka period, about 1,400 years ago. The architectural structure in which Asuka-period kumiko work can be seen is Horyu-ji Temple, which is considered the oldest surviving wooden structure in the world. Kumiko is preserved in the balustrades of the Kondo hall and the five-story pagoda, where it was placed for both safety and decorative purposes. The background for the significant increase in the number of combinations of kumiko patterns during the Edo period was the growing demand for wooden architecture.
Such a situation provided an opportunity for many craftsmen to show off their skills. Craftsmen competed with each other to produce a wide variety of kumiko patterns, and more than 200 types of kumiko patterns have been handed down to the present day.
Kumiko is a crystallization of technique, culture, and the spirit of craftsmanship. Traditional Kumiko patterns, nurtured in various aspects of Japanese culture and handed down over a long period of time, are beautifully expressed by the hands of craftsmen who work hard at their craft.
Drawing is a tool that can be used to decorate a wall as a painting, including its beautiful expression, by inserting flowers into holes with decorative expressions made of small pieces of braided work.
The artist enjoys changing the position of the flower each time the stem is cut in order to prolong the life of the flower, and to balance the overall appearance of the flower.
The moment one is inserted, the image begins to grow.
This model is a mock-up created by the designer, but in the near future, we would like to work with Japanese craftsmen of exceptional and authentic skills to develop a design that is appropriate for their techniques, and to present this idea to the world once again.
