The unique Japanese coloring and the beauty of patterns are immediately absorbing
Hand-painted yuzen dyeing is said to have been conceived by Miyazaki Yuuzensai, a Kyoto paper fan artist in the mid-Edo period. Among the various hand-painted yuzen traditions, in Tokyo yuzen, one single artist performs all of the processes involved, which means this tradition is characterized by the style of the artist taking center stage. When you encounter hand-painted yuzen with the unique Japanese coloring and the sheer beauty of the patterns, you will immediately be absorbed into the exquisiteness of the yuzen tradition.
Using a "Digital & Yuzen" approach to popularize hand-painted yuzen
2019 saw the blossoming of digital yuzen, a process of reproducing hand-painted yuzen through digital printing. This activity also uses the process of printing artwork created by activity instructor Ono on a t-shirt. You finish the art by coloring it. Implementing digital technology curbs costs anywhere from one-fifth to one-tenth of the price of traditional hand-painted yuzen, making it easier for many more people to own. Also, yuzen was originally a technology of dyeing silk, but using digital technology has made it possible to print on almost any material, which is what apparently made it possible to enjoy hand-painted yuzen on t-shirts as well.
Apply whatever colors you like to create your own personal one-of-a-kind t-shirt
The activity starts with practice dyeing cloth. You wear a kappogi apron and samue work clothes during the process, making you feel like a true artisan.
After finishing the cloth dyeing practice, it is time to apply color to white portion of the t-shirt. From the prepared dyes, you select the color you want to use and apply it to the shirt. The instructor recommends not sticking to a single color, but instead making use of multiple colors, and even layering colors.
When applying color to the brush, refraining from adding too much dye, and instead brushing with almost a slight dry brush feel gives beautiful dyeing results.
Enjoy a commemorative photograph in a private space only accessible to you and the instructor
Dye is fixed in place through heat, so after color application is complete, the instructor irons the shirt so you can receive it right away. The shirt can be washed in a washing machine, making it easy to enjoy the high-class feel of your hand-painted yuzen pattern in everyday living.
The completed t-shirt is wrapped for you in special tatoshi wrapping paper with your name written on it, to make the experience even more exciting.
If the weather is nice, you can take a commemorative photograph on the rooftop only accessible to you and the instructor, with the TOKYO SKYTREE® as a backdrop. It would be so much fun to put the shirt on right away to make it a part of a photograph that memorializes this special day forever.
After the activity, you can also purchase hand-painted yuzen items as souvenirs like hand towels, scarf bags, folding fans, and stoles. Bring yuzen into your daily life and feel a closeness to Japanese tradition.
"Providing yuzen" to daily life through collaboration with the instructor
The beauty of hand-painted yuzen is that the artist paints every single element by hand. Another special aspect is that the work is not finished simply when the artistic portion is complete. It is only complete when someone actually dons the hand-painted yuzen. And this activity as well can be called a "collaborative project" in which the participant applies color to artwork designed by the instructor, and completes the process by actually wearing the t-shirt at the end.
Instructors Ono and Machida use the term "providing yuzen" for the act of adding color, and they are active as artist with the goal of "providing yuzen to the whole world." It is our hope that, through this yuzen dyeing activity, you add yuzen into your own life as well.
Yukiya Co., Ltd. is a hand-painted yuzen artist studio. Instructor Machida entered the world of yuzen in 1999, and instructor Ono joined in in 2006. They have created many hand-painted yuzen pieces, and their history of receiving awards is also rich. By starting to deploy digital yuzen in 2019, they are actively widening the scope of people who can own yuzen works.