As part of the TextileLab Amsterdam every month Textile Dialogue's take place, an indepth program guided by experts from the textile industry. This first Textile Dialogue "zen mark making_experiencing the process" will explore a series of Japanese tools and processes such as Katazome; Harite, Bake brushes and intuitive mark making process to collaboratively paint together. The program is guided by Ane Baztarrika.
This process of mark making is based on the art of zen painting where an intuitive process forces you to be present with your full body and feel each brush stroke without a specific plan or outcome in mind. It’s about feeling the connection between the ink, the brush, the hand and the body as one. The setting will invite you to be present and interact with tools in a unique way. From one side to another, a fabric will be stretched using Harite; a traditional Japanese wooden fabric grabber or clamp that is tied to each end of the fabric.
Participants will be invited to stand and move around the fabric while making their marks and collaboratively creating a piece that expresses emotion through movement and shape. Also the variety of brushes will lead to unexpected and unique patterns.
Ane Baztarrika has a background in Fine Arts and a Masters in Design. Baztarrika's practice focuses on hand painted and naturally dyed textiles. She is currently researching at the TextileLab in the Waag on developing natural pigment based dyes and exploring new materials, as well as uses for the different techniques she got to learn and see on her recent 3 month trip around Japan.
