This exhibition had been on my mind for a while.
I'm glad I finally made it before its closure next year.
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I was aware of the movement to re-evaluate BORO from a fashion perspective.
In New York vintage shops, alongside expensive denim and military jackets, you can even find Japanese BORO.
No, actually, I regret that even as a Japanese person, I only vaguely grasped that one aspect.
I visited this exhibition thinking, "Wouldn't it be great if I could get some inspiration!"
However, as soon as I entered, that thought vanished.
I was the only visitor, in a space surrounded by BORO.
Honestly, it was scary.
Each piece had a powerful presence that was definitely different from what I had seen in photos.
An incredibly heavy weight, far exceeding my imagination.
The pamphlet quoted Kyoichi Tsuzuki, saying, "The textile aesthetics created by farmers," but what overwhelmed me was the perpetually dark "poverty" that permeated everything.
It was quite difficult to endure.
▲ This is an example of underwear (loincloth) actually used back then.
Originally, "boro" refers to the garments worn by farmers in the harsh cold of the Tohoku region, patched countless times and passed down through generations.
And as the origin of the word "boro" suggests, it symbolized the poverty of Tohoku.
▲ Tonja, used to wrap oneself in when sleeping at night. These items have existed for generations. All exhibited items are touchable.
The purity born solely from the earnest desire to ward off the cold.
The more I looked at it, the more painful it became.
An era completely opposite to consumption.
While somewhat regretting my casual visit, I couldn't look away, and by the time I finished, I was emotionally drained by the boro.
I wanted to recommend it with a brighter tone, but even writing about it brings me down (lol).
Therefore, I hesitate to strongly recommend it, but it's an exhibition that will definitely hit you hard, like a slap in the face.
Ultimately, isn't this kind of extraordinary emotion precisely why we visit art museums and historical museums?
I recommend going alone, without inviting anyone (lol).
posted by A. Imoto