Some miniature cubes in the Tansa exhibition

These four miniature textile pieces in the Tansa exhibition are all based on a cube form and like all the pieces in the exhibition were inspired by a research trip to Japan. ‘Beyond blue’ by Janice Gunner www.janicegunner.co.uk is inspired particularly by Indigo Blue. Janice combines vintage and contemporary shibori, which we saw in Arimatsu, with her own interpretations, to pay tribute to the textile heritage of Japan. The inclusion of gold Mizuhiki cord in the work references the gold leaf artisans of Kanazawa.

Noriko Matsumoto’s ‘Organic cube’ is the result of a collaboration with an organic cotton company that aims at zero waste. Noriko aims to represent our co-existence and co-prosperity with the ichimatu, which is an auspicious pattern in Japan @norikoweaver.

‘Beyond duality’ by Peta Jacobs www.petajacobs.com was inspired by two illuminated experiences from the research trip. First the flood-lit Yukuzuri rope structures that protect the trees in the Kenrokuen Garden in Kanasawa and second the immersive interactive Borderless exhibition by team-Lab which reconfigured experiences of space, time and light.

‘Apollo’ by Yasuko Fujino @y.f.weaving is named for the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing but expresses a desire to create something tangible from the ineffable. Yasuko says that the starting point of the work is a need ‘to create something in front of me that is not already here, and make it real’.

There’s still time to see the exhibition ‘Tansa – Japanese threads of influence’ which runs until 26 March at the Crafts Study Centre, Farnham, and then travels to Gallery Gallery in Kyoto.