Kimono as Art Exhibition

 This exhibition has two entranceways, but it is only after I was done contemplating the amazing kimonos that I realized that the way I entered may have been another person’s exit. After considering ‘my’ entrance, once more, I remembered a quote from French film maker Jean-Luc Godard which says that a story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end… but not necessarily in that order.
The conjoint San Diego Museum of Art/Timken’s newest exhibition follows this rule of thumb: whether you start your visit with the beginning or the end, the fullness of Itchiku Kubota’s kimono making skills would be uncovered evenly.
The culminating point of the exhibition is the Symphony of Light, a succession of 20 entirely hand-made kimonos representing the 4 seasons over mount Fuji and created over an eleven year time frame. This absolute piece of art is framed by two galleries working both as introduction and conclusion. The first one introduces artist Itchiku Kubota and gives the visitor a brief summary of his career, while the second is an attempt to illustrate the elaborate embellishment process.

This exemplar exhibition not only sets the trend to a visit where it is possible to start with the end or to finish with the beginning, but where all elements also make perfect sense.
The conjoint participation of Timken Museum was another brilliant concept, especially in a time where funds become rare and grants are less easily accessible.

links : SDMA, Timken Museum