The tapestry 'A Divers Life' is part of the larger work 'Parel Silhouet', for which the Japanese graphic designer Kumi Hiroi researched the history of pearl fishers in the Dutch colonies in India from 1658 to 1796. The tapestry combines images of pearls with their greatest enemies: pearl fishers and seaweed.
'Parel Silhouet’ reveals the historical relationship between the Netherlands and Japan, linked by the sea and its pearls. The story begins with a painting from the Golden Age and describes the journey of a Dutch East India ship that sails via the south coast of India to Nagasaki, Japan. Using poems, texts, photography, video, silkscreen printing and textiles, Hiroi creates an image of the production process related to pearls: people who desire pearl products, who dive for or cultivate pearls, and who make products with pearls.
The tapestry is made from several materials, including cotton, wool and linen. Although it was woven, the variety of materials gives the tapestry an embroidered effect.
Kumi Hiroi is a graphic designer and visual artist from Gifu, Japan. Her work often revolves around making stories tangible. She combines her creative skills with detailed research and fieldwork into the unique culture and history of a specific area or region. She then translates the complex layers of the subject into images and visual statements.
