Sashiko Workshop: Plain Running Stitch Coaster

New York-Fou Gallery cordially invites you to our Sashiko Workshop: Plain Running Stitch Coaster, which will take place on July 13, 2024, from 3:30 - 6:00 PM. Led by Wenjue Lu & Chufeng Fang, participants will explore the art of Sashiko—a traditional Japanese sewing technique—through detailed demonstrations and hands-on practice. Experience the leisurely pace of hand stitching and admire the elegance of delicate textures while creating a 100% natural cotton coaster from scratch—drawing the pattern, cutting the fabric, and sewing it together.

Sashiko Tea Mats display, photo provided by Studio Wenjüe Lu.

Sashiko 刺し子 is a traditional Japanese folk hand-stitching technique developed in the north of Japan since the Edo period (1603-1868). It started as a method used by working-class farming families. During the winter, women used to mend and strengthen damaged and old garments for men. Mending with sashiko was a necessary skill due to the complicated process of producing fabrics and the preciousness of clothes. It took several centuries for Sashiko to transform from a practical necessity into an art form with decorative elements.

Another distinctive aspect of Sashiko lies in the ritualistic nature of its embroidery process. Begin by slowing down, maintaining patience, and trying to feel the movement of the needle. Rather than fixating too much on the size of each stitch, find your own stitching rhythm. Once you find your rhythm, you will naturally create even stitches. As muscle memory develops, the actions will become much more manageable. Smooth out the fabric regularly during stitching, emphasizing pulling the fabric rather than pushing the needle.

Making the Sashiko fish, photo provided by Studio Wenjüe Lu.

Sashiko bandana display, photo provided by Studio Wenjüe Lu.

Studio Wenjüe Lu at Debutea, photo provided by Studio Wenjüe Lu.

Founded in 2020, Studio Wenjüe Lu ((www.wenjuelu.com) merges traditional and contemporary art forms. It combines soft sculpture and fiber art with poetry, using the natural beauty of uncolored fibers to prompt reflection and revive overlooked elements in today's fast-paced world. Inspired by Taoist philosophy, by integrating authentic traditions from diverse communities, the studio preserves its unique historical and cultural significance while embracing modern artistic aesthetics driven by emotional expression. Spanning studio art, fashion, community activities, and cultural workshops, the studio defies categorization. The founders, Wenjue Lu from Beijing and Chufeng Fang from Jieyang, have backgrounds in fashion design, and media & culture.

Wenjue Lu and Chufeng Fang have collaborated under "Studio Wenjüe Lu," exploring stillness, fragility, anxiety, and slowness in an accelerating world. Their works are showcased on platforms like Dover Street Market, Net-A-Porter, and their website. They emphasize the rediscovery of hand weaving and traditional crafts, honoring the natural qualities of cotton, silk, linen, and hemp fibers. They advocate for the enduring relationship between clothing and the body, crafting collections intended for longevity and eventual return to the earth.

纽约-否画廊诚挚邀请您参加将于2024年7月13日下午3:30至5:30举行的《刺し子Sashiko工作坊》。在陆文珏与方楚峰的指导下，活动参与者将通过详细的示范和练习，探索刺し子Sashiko这一传统的日本缝纫艺术。在制作过程中，您将体验手工缝制的慢节奏，欣赏其精致纹理的优雅。从绘制图案、剪裁布料到缝制成型，参与者将亲手制作一个100%纯棉的杯垫。

刺し子（Sashiko）历史悠久，是一种源自江户时期（1603-1868年）日本北部的传统民间手工缝制技艺，最初由工人阶级的农家妇女使用。冬季里，妇女们为家人修补和加固破损的衣物。由于布料生产过程复杂且衣物珍贵，刺し子（Sashiko）的补缀技能成为生活中不可或缺的一部分。经过几个世纪的发展，刺し子（Sashiko）从一种节俭的必需品演变为一种装饰性的艺术。刺し子（Sashiko）的用途包括修补、补缀、加固和装饰，让其在现代依然颇受推崇。

关于刺し子（Sashiko）的另一个特别之处在于其刺绣过程中的仪式感。刚开始时要放慢速度，保持耐心，试着感受针的移动。不要过分拘泥于每一针的大小，而是找到自己的缝纫节奏。一旦找到了自己的节奏，自然会缝出均匀的针脚。一旦肌肉记忆形成，动作会变得更加容易。在缝纫过程中，抚平布料，以拉动布料进行缝纫，而不是推针。

成立于2020年，由艺术家陆文珏与方楚峰创立。他们以软雕塑和纤维艺术结合诗歌，通过天然色纤维的朴素外表引发思考，旨在恢复被这个快节奏时代忽视的事物。工作室通过结合不同社区的真实传统，保留其独特的历史和文化意义，并将情感表达驱动的当代艺术美学融入其中，成为一个不受单一定义约束的艺术实体——跨领域关注工作室艺术、服装、社区活动和文化工作坊。他们受到道家世界观的启发。

陆文珏出生于北京，方楚峰出生于揭阳。文珏在帕森斯设计学院获得了时装设计学士学位，方楚峰在纽约大学获得了媒体与文化学士学位。自2021年起，他们以“Studio Wenjüe Lu”的名义开始合作，探索在一个不断加速的世界中静止、脆弱、焦虑和缓慢之间的关系。

他们的作品由Dover Street Market和Net-A-Porter等知名平台展示，同时也在品牌网站上直接提供。工作室强调重新发现和珍视手工编织和传统民间工艺，尊重不同纤维的自然状态，从棉花、丝绸到亚麻……将这些面料作为其语言中的各种修辞手段之一。他们相信服装和身体之间的永恒陪伴。他们的服装系列旨在每一件作品都能持久耐用，随着每一次使用和穿着，最终将回归土地。

Host or Publisher Fou Gallery