Masakazu Kobayashi is a Japanese textile designer. With his use of fabrics, he used traditional techniques with western technologies. He collaborates with his Wife, Naomi Kobayashi they generally create individual works that are installed together.
Education
He studied at the University of Arts, Kyoto, Japan.
Biography
Between 1966 and 1975, he worked as a textile designer for Kawashima. He manifested traditional textile techniques and aesthetics in his work. He developed both production fabrics and large-scale fibre works.
The repeated lines and stripes of his 1982 Space Age fabric by Sangetsu evoked komon, a textile dyeing technique that uses paper patterns with small motifs. Other works suggestive of traditional weavings included 1977 W to the third power and, with threads suspended in a frame, 1979 Meditation.
Collaboration with his Wife Naomi Kobayashi
Masakazu Kobayashi and his wife, Naomi Kobayashi, generally collaborated to create individual works that were installed together. Kobayashi explained: “These works express a shared vision and such common themes as the tranquillity of nature, the infinity of the universe and the Japanese spirit. Naomi and I work in fibre because natural materials have integrity, and are gentle and flexible. In my own work, I search for an equilibrium between my capacity as a creator and the energy of the world around me. When I am able to find this equilibrium, my works exist on their own. Among the works I have created are projects that incorporate several styles and emphasize primary colours. In creating such combinations, I want the viewer to experience the resonating chords that come from each element of the work.”
Sources
Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.
Hiesinger, K. B., & Bill, M. (1983). Design since 1945: published in conjunction with the exhibition “Design Since 1945”, Philadelphia Museum of Art, October 16, 1983 to January 8, 1984.
Masakazu Kobayashi. (n.d.). http://www.browngrotta.com/Pages/kobayashi.m.php.