Artist Statement
私は、日本の伝統的な染色技法である糸目友禅染の再解釈に、「伝統工芸の革新」「現代美術の批評性」「デジタルとアナログ」「現代の浮世絵」「時間」「意識」をテーマに据え、ステイニングによる染色絵画の実践を通して探究しています。この探求は、友禅染の表現の可能性を問い直すとともに、伝統的な染色技法を現代に再構築する試みです。
I explore the practice ofstaining-based dye painting as themes of “the renewal of traditionalcraftsmanship in the contemporary era”, “the criticality of contemporary art”, “therelationship between digital and analog”, “contemporary ukiyo-e”, “time”,and “consciousness” .for the reinterpretation of the traditional Japanesedyeing technique Itome Yuzen-zome.
Through the practice of staining-based dye painting, I try to reexamine theexpressive possibilities of Yuzen dyeing and an attempt of reconstructiontraditional dyeing techniques in a contemporary context

(English follows)
Toru Ishii
Born in 1981 in Shizuoka ofJapan, Lives and works in Tokyo
Education
2014 Tokyo University of the Arts, Ph.D. Textile Arts
2010 Tokyo University of the Arts, M.A. Textile Arts
2008 Chelsea College of arts and design, M.A.Textile Design, Exchange Student Program
2006 Tokyo University of the Arts, B.A. Textile Arts
Public Collection
2025 Sakura Art Museum, Osaka
2025 Hokkaido Modern Contemporary Museum,Sapporo
2019 Victoria and Albert Museum, London
2019 Morikami Museum, Miami
2014 Tokyo University of the Arts Museum, Tokyo
Awards/Grants
2016 "Nomura Foundation Grant, MitsubishiCorporation Art Gate Program Grant
2015 "Oversea Programme" Agency forCultural Affair, Government of Japan
2014 "Asahi Shinbun Foundation" AsahiNewspaper
2013 "Doctoral Program Final Exhibition"Nomura Art Prize,
2011 "Nomura Foundation Grant, MitsubishiCorporation Art Gate Program Grant
2011 "Ise Cultural FoundationExhibition" David Solo Award
2011 “Mitsubishi Corporation Art Gate Grant
Selected Solo Exhibition
2025 " TORU ISHII" Whimsy Works, Taipei
2024 " DRIFTING " Sokyo Atsumi, Tokyo
2023"TORU ISHII " Frederick Harris Gallery, Tokyo
2018 " Metropolitan Moment " SokyoGallery, Kyoto2014 " Delirious Metropolis " DaiwaAnglo Japanese Foundation, London2
011 " Toru Ishii" Tokyo Opera CityArt Gallery, Project N46,
Tokyo2010 " Metropolitan Moment "MizumaAction, Tokyo
Selected Group Exhibition
2025 " Dyeing and Weaving " Silk Museum, Yokohama
2024 " Sapporo International Art Festival "Hokkaido Modern Contemporary Museum,Sapporo
2023 " JAPAN: Myths Manga " Young Victoria and Albert Museum, London
2023 " 8144_KYOTO " Sokyo Annex Gallery,Kyoto
2023 "8144_TOKYO ” Oil Gallery, Tokyo
2023 " KUROOBIANACONDA " AISHONANZUKA, HK
2022 “BEING AND TIME” Power long Art Center, Shanghai
2022 “KOISHI KEI” SOKYO gallery, Kyoto
2022 “THE WAY” IAM CONTEMPORARY gallery,Valletta
2022 “KUROOBIANACONDA” Sokyo gallery, Lisbon
2021 “LUCKY CHARM” Hoxton Arches Gallery, London
2021 “KUROOBIANACONDA” Tezukayama Gallery, Osaka
2020 “KUROOBIANACONDA” 5th Floor Gallery,Tokyo
2019 “Permanent Collection Exhibition” Victoria andAlbert Museum, London
2019 “Perspectives” Intermediatheque/ TokyoUniversity Museum, Tokyo
2018 "Trans National Tokyo", Valleta
2018 "TOUCH "Atelier Blancs Manteaux,Paris
2017 "LIGHT SGRAFFITO " Victoria andAlbert Museum, London
2017 "WORLD LOGEI 100” " ToyamaPrefecture Museum, Toyama
2017 "IMAYO" The Shoto Art Museum, Tokyo
2016 "IMAYO" Honolulu Museum of Art,Honolulu
2016 "IMAYO" University of Hawaii,Honolulu
2016 "NEO NIPPONICA" Victoria andAlbert Museum, London
2014 ”IMPACTS!” Zane Bennett Contemporary Art ,Santa Fe
2014”GOODBYE TRADITIONS!” MICHIKO GALERIE, Munich
2014 "KIZASHI" POLA MUSEUM ANNEX,Tokyo
2013 "EDO POP " Japan Society Gallery,New York
2013 "Weird World" ISE CulturalFoundation Gallery, New York
2013"Look East! 2- Asian Perspectives"MIZUMA ART GALLERY, Singapore