Yoko ANDO chose to exhibit in an old three-story storehouse in the town of Fujiyoshida.
With only small windows on each of its three floors, the building's dimly lit interior must be navigated by a series of staircases. Ando’s installation penetrates these three spaces in a cascading bouquet of thread that penetrates the three spaces. The threads are composed of silky cupro fabric for a light yet lustrous feel that Ando compares to aether, the invisible and imaginary air-like substance proposed by Aristotle as the “fifth element” that was thought to fill all space—from our immediate surroundings to the entire universe. Where these aether-like bundles pierce the floor and ceiling, warp threads are woven in the image of plants and skillfully fastened together to create a spatial design based on original textiles. Her work exudes representations of life and vitality.
Ando is well known for her curtain and fabric designs and is a frequent collaborator with many prominent architects. Her major works include the National Taichung Theater (Toyo Ito & Associates), the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art (Jun Aoki & Tezzo Nishizawa), and the Shiroiya Hotel (Sou Fujimoto Architects). Ando’s work here is unique and experimental in that it both connects textiles and architectural spaces and bridges the gap between art and design.
