古今東西に着想を得たポップでレトロな乙女の世界Pop and Retro Girly World Inspired by All Ages and Cultures
福井で生まれ、アトリエを構える黒田美恵さん。彼女が図案を手掛けた手ぬぐい、包装紙、かるた、ポーチはどれも色がビビッド。柄はモダンでシュールな不思議さが漂う。
日本文化が大好き。「着物の銘仙など昔の日本人の大胆な色と形の取り合わせに心底惚れ込み」影響を受けた。「最近は『万葉集』に魅せられて、和歌を図案のモチーフにすることに夢中」。地元はもちろん、関西・関東で展覧会を開催。黒田さんの新しい色で刷られた万葉人の心が、現代の女性たちに伝わってゆく。
「私は図案家。デザインを〝図案〟と呼んでいた明治時代のニュアンスが好きです。その時代の和紙の手触りや風合いまでもが言葉に含まれるようで。そこが〝イラストレーター〟〝デザイナー〟と違うと感じています。越前和紙を使うことも多く、紙に恵まれた福井に居るのは幸運」。
日本人特有の色や柄の感覚を形にしたい。幾何学模様やアールデコにも惹かれる。「日々勉強ですね」。
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ウィギーカンパニー
図案家 黒田美恵
北陸を拠点に、関東・関西 各地で活動中。包装紙などの紙雑貨を中心に作品を製作するほか、お店や噺家さんの手ぬぐい、神社のおみくじ、舞台の幕などオリジナルの図案を生かし、幅広く展開しております。日本の古典文様からモダン、ポップなモチーフまで様々な要素を取り入れつつ、独特な世界観の図案を手掛けます。
Yoshie Kuroda was born and works in Fukui Prefecture. Tenugui towel, wrapping paper, Karuta (traditional Japanese playing cards), pouch… the items designed by her are always vivid. The patterns are modern and a little surrealistic.
Yoshie adores Japanese culture and sensibility. She has fallen in love with, and been inspired by, Japanese people’s audacious combinations of colour and shape seen in, for instance, old Meisen silk cloth for Kimono. ‘Lately I am so into Manyoshu, the eighth Century anthology of Japanese poetry, and devoted to using Waka poetry-related motifs for my design’ says Kuroda. She has held exhibitions in Kansai region and Kanto region, as well as her local area. The spirit of Japanese people from the Manyo time, printed in Yoshie’s fresh colours, echoes modern women.
‘I call myself Zuan Ka. I especially like the nuance in the Meiji period where people called design as Zuan, because I think that this word contains the texture or even feeling of the Washi paper of that time. This is why I feel that calling myself an illustrator or designer is different from calling myself Zuan Ka. I often use Echizen Washi paper. I feel very privileged to be in Fukui, which has a rich variety of papers.’
She aims to realise the feeling of colour or pattern unique to Japanese people. She is fascinated by geometric patterns and Art Deco, too. ‘Every day is a leaning experience.’
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WIGGIE COMPANY
Yoshie Kuroda, Zuan Ka (Designer)
Kuroda is based in Hokuriku region, and works in various locations including Kanto and Kansai regions. She works mainly on paper items such as wrapping paper, but her designs are used for a variety of items including Tenugui towels for shops and traditional Japanese comedians, Omikuji (paper fortunes) for Shinto shrines, stage curtains, and others. Her unique Zuan draw inspiration from various motifs, ranging from Japanese classic patterns to modern and pop styles.
