source: textileartscenter

Asako Ishizaki‘s inspiration comes from the drama created by nature’s ecosystem, which penetrates every facet of our lives. Her work offers to simulate the senses and imagination of invisibility and visibility. ”Therefore the form of my work should devote itself to become minimalist, as if by natural selection, and should catch air and light to make it possible to sneak in the natural beauty.” — Asako’s Artist Statement

Thus all of her works are transparent and airy to allow the light and air to intertwine with the structure
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source: culturebase

Asako Ishizaki creates free-standing, three-dimensional works, often using the materials of silk or linen. Central to her practice is the use of light. Although she trained as a weaver, studying at the Kyoto University of Education until 1969, she has since developed her own technique and way of working. Ishizaki now uses plain weave but allows the weft threads to cross freely without warp threads at various points. Once removed from the loom the centre of the cloth is sewn over again to increase its density. Sometimes the artist pleats her cloth to give a further dimension. Based in the countryside, Ishizaki finds inspiration in nature, and particularly in the elements. Wind, air and most importantly, light are constant themes in her works as she seeks to echo the natural environment. In 2001, Ishizaki was one of the thirteen leading contemporary Japanese textile artists to participate in the successful ´Textural Space´ exhibition in the UK. The project was originated by the Surrey Institute of Art and Design University College and partly funded by Visiting Arts, UK. Following the theme of the show, Ishizaki displayed large-scale work that displayed the three-dimensional potential of textiles within an installation format. The piece ´Drawn From Light´ was woven from linen and silver yarn but involves the use of the light as a key component. The work was lit from above so that the pattern of the threads cast shadows, drawing from the light. In the catalogue accompanying the exhibition, curator Lesley Millar describes the delicate nature of the work: “the horizontal ´weft´ threads have been tie-dyed giving a variation of colour and texture which add to the visual sensation that the work is floating in the air´. Ishizaki also exhibited her work ´Field´ in the ´Textural Space´ exhibition, which again, displays her skilful use of light. As Millar argues, “These are not a pieces of cloth cleverly lit, they are textiles which have incorporated light from their inception. The concept of drawing with the light has been the subject of the working method which she has used throughout the whole of the gestation and development of the work, seeing light as not only infiltrating but becoming the strands themselves.” Ishizaki currently works as a lecturer at the Kawashima Textile School, IIDA Woman´s Junior College, Japan. She has had several solo exhibitions in France and Japan, and has participated in many group exhibitions in Switzerland, France, Sweden and Japan. Source: Based on text by Lesley Millar in the ´Textural Space´ catalogue.

Asako Ishizaki trained as a weaver, studying at the Kyoto University of Education until 1969. She currently works as a lecturer at the Kawashima Textile School, IIDA Woman´s Junior College, Japan. She has had several solo exhibitions in France and Japan, and has participated in many group exhibitions in Switzerland, France, Sweden and Japan.