Japanese artist Aiko Tezuka designed a series of textiles that reference different cultures at different times, such as Singapore’s Peranakan culture in the 20th century, Britain in the 16th century, Japan in the 8th century and India in the 18th century. The TextielLab made a custom warp of coloured yarn especially for the series.
The tapestry Certainty / Entropy (Peranakan 1) is based on research that Tezuka conducted in the Peranakan community in Singapore. The Peranakan culture mixes influences from ethnic Malay groups, Chinese and Indian immigrants and British colonisers, among others. Tezuka used the polyphony of these textiles as a starting point for a contemporary interpretation. Ornate floral patterns and birds were woven against a background of rich blues and greens. In parallel, Tezuka incorporated contemporary symbols – such as the at (@) and copyright (©) symbols, biohazard symbol (representing environmental risks), organic food symbol and the peace sign – which are at odds with dominant traditional imagery. The peace sign, for instance, symbolises universal peace and equality but is also frequently appropiated by profit-driven companies. By partially unravelling the threads in her work, Tezuka uncovers the multiple layers and interests at play across times and cultures, creating a new composition.
Tezuka (Tokyo, 1976) studied painting at Musashino Art University in Tokyo. Her works resemble physically collapsed paintings, in which two-dimensional images are reinterpreted as three-dimensional entities. Her practice is based on fabrics and incorporates multiple influences, including Gobelin tapestries, Indian fabrics and old tablecloths. The influence of cultures on each other is a central theme in Aiko Tezuka’s work. Numerous galleries and museums around the world have exhibited her work, including The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in South Korea, Mikiko Sato Gallery in Hamburg and The National Art Center in Tokyo. She currently lives and works in Berlin.
