Words by Francesca Perry
After a long wait following Covid-19 lockdowns, Making NUNO – an exhibition looking at the work of Japanese textile designer Sudō Reiko, design director of textile firm NUNO – has opened at Japan House London.
The exhibition, with art direction and installations by Saitō Seiichi of design and architecture firm Panoramatiks, shines a spotlight on Sudō and how she pushes the boundaries of textile production and champions new methods of sustainable manufacture.
The show includes five large-scale installations of Sudō’s work, using a variety of processes from washi (traditional Japanese paper) dyeing to chemical lace embroidery inspired by rolls of paper. Each installation is accompanied by drawings and sketches, alongside raw materials and design prototypes.
May 4, 2021 2:54 pm
“My designs often start from little everyday moments, where I’ll think ‘Hmm, that’s interesting, how would this work as a textile?’,” says designer Sudō Reiko.
Most of her ideas are born out of what she calls “a sense of wonder toward ordinary occurrences”. This way of thinking is how and why she strives to blend her traditional Japanese culture and practices with cutting edge technology, producing innovative materials in the process.
As London’s Japan House prepares to open an exhibition exploring Sudō’s life and work, we speak with her about what visitors can expect from the show and how her career has developed.