weaving
Moeki Yamada
Please tell us a bit about yourself.
Hi, my name is Moeki Yamada, I'm from Aichi, Japan. I am a hand weaver, and I also work with natural dyes. I moved to Barcelona in 2014, for an exchange year with my university. At that time, I was studying linguistics at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. Since then, I have dedicated my life to the art of weaving and natural dyes, and my passion for this craft has only grown stronger over the years.
How did you become a weaver? What was your early motivation to express your creativity through this medium?
I think it was quite organic, because since I was in an exchange year, I had a lot of free time, and it was one of the first times in my life when I was able to really take time for myself. I think Japanese and Spanish societies are very different. Japan has many good things but there is also a lot of social pressure, there are many roads that seem to be very marked, and social pressure to follow them. I was feeling very restrained there, but when I came to Barcelona I was able to discover who I was. One day I discovered Teranyina, a textile atelier, and I fell in love with weaving. Later on, I started to go to the Masana School, to study the Textile Art course. For my final project, I decided to investigate and find out more about textile crafts in Japan, which was something I was unaware of. This experience helped me to reconnect with my roots and to understand more about my practice of weaving.
Were there any practitioners or other artists that influenced you early on?
For my final project, I was doing a lot of research about a technique called Shifu. Through Susan Byrd, the author of the book “A Song of Praise for Shifu”, I was lucky enough to discover my master Sadako Sakurai. Together with her husband, she dedicated her whole life to recover this ancient technique. I think she had the biggest influence on my practice and on myself. The moment I met her has been the moment when I reconnected with ´another´ Japan. In my first meeting with Mrs. Sakurai, I felt very nervous, because I already had a very conventional idea of Japan, but it was just the opposite. She embraced me with her love, shared everything she knew, and made me feel like I was part of her family. This experience inspired me a lot and made me fall more in love with the world of crafts, and also want to dedicate myself to weaving and leave my mark on this world though it.
Can you take us through your weaving processes? Do you have a favourite part of the creation process?
I don't have a very pre-established process, but I always start with the colours that I have within my reach. I combine the linen threads that have their natural colour with the threads dyed with natural dyes. From there I always look for a contemporary design. I have many references from the world of traditional Japanese textiles, but I always seek to create something with a contemporary touch. I think my process is pretty intuitive. I pay attention to what gives me joy and the aesthetics that makes me feel good and take it from there. What I like the most about weaving is that each step has a very precise meaning and that you are always moving forward. I like the whole process more than a specific part.
What fibers do you like to work with the most?
At the moment I work with linen and hemp because they are very rustic, and they age with time and usage. This is the main reason why I like it so much.
Can you share a bit about how you’ve been introduced to Shifu and what draws you to using this ancient Japanese technique?
I discovered Shifu while I was finishing my final project. After having the experience with Mrs. Sakurai, I realised that this work goes beyond me. I think she has transmitted the desire to recover this technique and pass it down to others.
Can you share your thoughts on the benefits of working with your hands, and how it affects your well-being?
The loom and the work with the dyes are quite physical, beyond using your hands, you have to use your whole body. This takes you into a very meditative space. I like to say that this wonderful space is where only my tools and my body exist.
We know that you’ve recently run a natural dyeing workshop in Barcelona. Tell us a bit more about this experience and your motivation to teach.
When I started giving workshops I thought a lot about the monetary value, because it was a bit challenging to make a living at first from my practice. I thought that it is something that I can offer apart from my bags. I enjoy it a lot because I feel that I'm taking this old knowledge and wonderful cultural heritage, and I pass it down. To be able to transmit what I have learned gives me enormous satisfaction.
Where do you think lies the biggest potential to preserve important local crafts and traditions?
As a crafter, I think my mission is to learn from the artisans that already exist and try to pass it on to future generations. I think that learning from the past is learning about the relationship we had with nature, with everything that surrounds us, and it is not just about learning more about the techniques, but about the philosophy of life embedded in these traditions. For me, it is very important to learn from the artisans and be able to contribute to the preservation of this knowledge.
What is your greatest ambition now, when it comes to your practice?
I think that many artisans in Japan have no connection with anything beyond their hometown, so a lot of them hold a lot of cultural richness but they are a bit trapped there, together with the rich information that they hold. So I think one of my ambitions is to be a bit of a bridge between Japanese artisans and the rest of the world and to be their voice. I am fascinated by this ancient knowledge, and hopefully, I can pass it down to as many people as possible.
Where and how can people engage more with your work?
People can find me my work at www.mooeki.com and via Instagram @moeki_yamada. Products photos 1,4, 6, 7, 12, 14 by Taima Estudi, and the rest belong to Moeki.
The interview was taken in Spanish.
