Puffed Blocks thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Puffed Blocks

Loom-Width
1979 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Junichi Arai was born in Kiryu in 1932 in the centre of Japan's traditional weaving area. Arai is an acknowledged leader in the field of experimental weaving technology, combining traditional and futuristic, often with unexpected qualities. He worked closely with the fashion designer Issey Miyake in the 1980s.

This piece is a multi-textured monochrome patchwork quilt, in which threads of different weights and tensions create a pucker and warp effect. It is a successful combination of synthetic and natural materials, with elasticity and soft textures. The fabric is a simple plain weave with a variation in the individual squares deriving from the subtly different personalities of the yarns used.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitlePuffed Blocks (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Jacquard woven cotton and polyester, and elastic
Brief description
Loom-width of jacquard woven cotton and polyester 'Puffed Blocks', designed by Junichi Arai for Comme des Garcons, made by NUNO, Japan, 1979
Physical description
Loom-width of white and beige woven cotton and polyester, and with elastic. With a puffed block design.
Dimensions
  • Length: 332cm
  • Width: 68cm
Gallery label
13. WOVEN TEXTILE: PUFFED BLOCKS Designed by Junichi Arai (Japanese, born 1932) Made by Oonishi Orimono for Nuno Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, 1979 Jacquard woven cotton and polyester Given by Nuno Corporation T.148-1990 Junichi Arai's work combines a craftsman's intimate knowledge of his materials with the latest computer age technology. This fabric has a simple plain weave, the elasticity and soft squared texture result entirely from the carefully arranged distribution of the four yarns used and the exploitation of their subtly different characteristics.
Credit line
Given by Sudo Reiko
Object history
Registered File number 1988/305.
NUNO was founded in 1984 as a commercial venture dealing with all stages of textile creation: planning designing, manufacturing and sales. It is a small company which endeavours to combine the best of the past, by drawing on traditional Japanese aesthetics and creative processes, and combining them with modern technologies.
Summary
Junichi Arai was born in Kiryu in 1932 in the centre of Japan's traditional weaving area. Arai is an acknowledged leader in the field of experimental weaving technology, combining traditional and futuristic, often with unexpected qualities. He worked closely with the fashion designer Issey Miyake in the 1980s.

This piece is a multi-textured monochrome patchwork quilt, in which threads of different weights and tensions create a pucker and warp effect. It is a successful combination of synthetic and natural materials, with elasticity and soft textures. The fabric is a simple plain weave with a variation in the individual squares deriving from the subtly different personalities of the yarns used.
Collection
Accession number
T.148-1990

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Record createdDecember 10, 2007
Record URL
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