A closer look at Japan's traditional natural indigo dyeing process to explore new creative possibilities

CHAT (Central Textile Art Gallery), located in Nan Fung Textile Mills, will launch a number of art projects in October this year, including a new quarterly exhibition "Baisheng: BUAISOU's Natural Indigo Dyeing in Japan", a community project "Learning to Weave", and "A Variety of Patterns: Patterns of Hong Kong's Geopolitics". The "Blue Beyond the Blue" exhibition is the first large-scale comprehensive exhibition of BUAISOU, a young Japanese natural indigo dyeing craftsman team. The exhibition will feature immersive installations that showcase the team’s indigo-dyed works, tools and a realistically restored studio space, introducing their unique “farm-to-closet” concept and new approach to inheritance. BUAISOU was founded in Tokushima, a place where craftsmen have produced the largest amount of traditional indigo dye "蒅" in Japan since ancient times. The team uses the traditional Japanese fermentation model to produce natural indigo dye. From growing indigo, fermenting in dye vats to dyeing cloth, most of the process is done by hand to respect and preserve traditional craftsmanship. While upholding the noble tradition of centuries-old craftsmanship, BUAISOU expands the scope of Japan's natural indigo dyeing from textiles to everyday furniture products such as stools. Through various forms of collaboration with international brands and designers such as Jimmy Choo, Tory Burch, NIKE, Artek, etc., we have successfully injected new elements into this time-honored craft and interacted with contemporary audiences. Among them, BUAISOU's cross-border creative works in collaboration with Jimmy Choo and NIKE will also be presented to Hong Kong visitors at the "Outstripping the Master" exhibition. The ongoing community project "Growing Learning and Weaving Culture" in CHAT Factory 6 will also showcase the artistic achievements of the past year in the quarterly exhibition. The project started in 2019 and was initiated by the Seed Team members, who worked together with community partners and the general public to build an environmentally friendly community and lifestyle by using indigo mud obtained from locally grown indigo plants and various environmentally friendly materials. Visitors will be able to witness the works they created and the results they achieved in this winter project. The seed team members participating in this exhibition include Breakthrough Space, Eliza, Zheng Shuyi, Hao Liren and Ma Yingwen. Starting from October 9, the Chen D. Hwa Foundation exhibition hall will launch a new theme display cabinet "A Variety of Patterns: Patterns in the Geopolitical Journey of Hong Kong", focusing on 4 unique patterns collected in Hong Kong, ranging from department store wrapping paper, multinational exported silk, local designers' knitwear, to the little-known, historic and dazzling batik printed fabrics, all of which showcase the characteristics and context of their pattern design. By delving deeper into these resonant textiles, the exhibition will further encourage visitors to pay more attention to the patterns they encounter in their daily lives. “The showcase carefully examines each pattern as a design product and how it connects Hong Kong to mainland China, Japan, the UK, the US, and even Ghana and Nigeria in the process of circulation,” said Li Shaoyan, curator of the showcase. “Through the interaction of goods across regions, these patterns seem to reveal Hong Kong as a city that is constantly embracing change, and even defined by change.” In line with its mission to bring the community together, CHAT Factory 6, as always, sincerely invites the public to visit and participate in a series of workshops. In the lobby of Nan Fung Cotton Mill, a large-scale art installation will present a spectacular forest of indigo transfer-printed fabrics across the activated building, creating a unique immersive landscape for visitors. The art gallery on the second floor will reproduce BUAISOU's studio in Tokushima at a one-to-one scale, and an interactive installation consisting of more than 70 indigo-dyed ropes will present visitors with stunning visual effects and create an unforgettable visiting experience. In addition, a series of workshops will be held this winter for visitors to gain a deeper understanding and experience the indigo dyeing process firsthand, and to experience the unique charm of natural indigo dyeing. Exhibition Details: The disciple surpasses the master: BUAISOU’s Japanese natural indigo dyeing work Date: October 29, 2022 - February 5, 2023 Opening hours: 11am to 7pm (Closed on Tuesdays) Venue: CHAT Factory 6, Nan Fung Spinning Mills, 45 Pak Tin Pa Street, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong CHAT Six Factory Special Exhibition Date: October 29, 2022 - November 27, 2022 Opening hours: 10am to 10pm Venue: Nan Fung Spinning Mills, 45 Pak Tin Pa Street, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong Kind of learning weaving Date: October 29, 2022 - February 5, 2023 Opening hours: 11am to 7pm (Closed on Tuesdays) Venue: CHAT Factory 6, Nan Fung Spinning Mills, 45 Pak Tin Pa Street, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong A Variety of Patterns: The Geopolitical Patterns of Traveling to and from Hong Kong Opening date: October 9, 2022 (until the end of 2023) Opening hours: 11am to 7pm (Closed on Tuesdays) Venue: CHAT Factory 6, Nan Fung Spinning Mills, 45 Pak Tin Pa Street, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong Image: BUAISOU | Photo: Kyoko Nishimoto #culturalpower #culturic #mill6chat #Sixth Mill Textile Culture and Art Museum #quarterlyexhibition #buaisou #indigodyeing #learningweaving #workshop #Nanfeng Spinning Mill