Tufting work introduction by Yu Shirato
We would like to introduce the works of our customers who have created using RUGMATAG's materials and equipment.
This time, the graduation project "Takashibaya" uses tufting to express the familiar Japanese motif of an izakaya.
It was created by Shirato Yuu (@uuushirato )
The warmth and realism that permeates the entire space seem to gently touch the viewer's memories.
■ Title and concept of the work
Title: Takashibaya Bar
I love izakayas because they are my grandmother's homes.
Recently, I've been thinking about my grandmother's house. She cooked delicious meals for me. She used to tell me, "You'll become a big drinker," because I enjoyed eating snacks to go with alcohol. It was a comfortable place to be.
The store I frequented had the comfort of my grandmother's house.
If my grandmother's house were to become an izakaya, it would be the ultimate izakaya for me. This is the store of my dreams. The shop curtain and signboard have my grandmother's surname. The menu on the wall features my grandmother's cooking. The yarn has the same kindness as my grandmother.
Welcome to Takashibaya. Please take your time.
■Activity name and profile
He is from Tokyo and works under his real name, Shirato Yuu.
I graduated from Tama Art University in March with a degree in graphic design, and from spring I will be working at a design production company in Tokyo.
Up until now, I have mainly worked on design, but also on photography and video production.
Tufting is an expressive technique that I first encountered in my graduation project, and although I had always been interested in it, I never had the opportunity to try it.
I started tufting as part of my graduation project, so I've only been doing it for about five months.
I hope to continue creating works that make full use of tufting!
■Production process and key points
I thought something small would be good to start with, so I started by creating a menu.
I realized later that expressing letters with tufting is quite difficult, and after researching, I found out that it's not recommended as a first step. lol Moreover, since the letters were small, I started with something that was quite difficult.
Since I was making my works at home, it was difficult to prepare a large space, so for large works such as noren curtains, lanterns, and signs, I made them in separate parts and then joined them together later.
I didn't go to any workshops, I just taught myself by watching videos and websites, so I made quite a few mistakes.
Lanterns and signs are designed and assembled by considering the unfolding diagram, and then cotton is stuffed inside or wood is inserted into the legs of the sign to make it stand on its own.
It was a lot of fun, like the crafts I did as a child, making things using my imagination.
I majored in graphic design, so I had no knowledge of textiles, but even so, I was able to create the piece I wanted pretty much!
In the future, I would like to explore new ways of expressing tufting by mixing in other materials and techniques.
■ Equipment and materials used
My first set of tools was a starter set from rugmatag! I also purchased other small tools from other shops.
The yarn used is soft acrylic yarn from rugmatag, as well as similar acrylic yarn from other shops.
The largest noren curtain in this work has a simple design, but the blue base stands out, so I thought that if I used yarn of one color, the design would not stand out and it would end up looking flat, so I mixed two different shades of blue yarn and wove them in. Also, by mixing two colors, I tried to express a texture like the uneven dyeing that appears on noren curtains that have been used for many years in old shops.
Also, I thought that if the hair was too short it would lose its soft, fluffy texture, so I was careful not to cut it too short with the clippers. Overall, I aimed to create a warm and soft atmosphere like my grandmother's house.
■ Future activities
The event will be held in Tokyo, but on Saturday, April 19th, I will be exhibiting my graduation project at an event called "Gekihatsu" at a gallery called DDD ART En in Shimokitazawa!
It's a fun event with art, music, pop-ups, food and drinks!
We hope you will stop by if you are in the area.
"Explosion"
Date and time: Saturday, April 19, 2025, 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Venue: DDD ART Garden
Ticket: ¥2,500
Instagram: @gekihatsu_
