Quick Facts
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Kakō Moriguchi (森口 華弘, Moriguchi Kakō, December 10, 1909 – February 20, 2008) was a Japanese textile artist who specialized in making kimono dyed using the yūzen technique. He also created the makinori dying technique.
Biography
Moriguchi was born in Moriyama, Shiga prefecture on December 10, 1909. His given birth name was Heishichiro. He apprenticed with yūzen dyer Nakagawa Kason when he was 15. Moriguchi took the artist name "Kakō" in 1934, when he was 25. He then opened his own studio in 1939. However, he struggled because of the anti-luxury measures that were implemented during World War II, and had to re-establish his studio in 1948.
Moriguchi first exhibited at the Japanese Traditional Craft Exhibition (Nihon Dento Kogei ten) in 1955, where he won third place. He was named a Living National Treasure in 1967. In 1971 he was awarded the Japanese Medal of Honor (purple ribbon). He was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun in 1982.
Moriguchi died on February 20, 2008. His son, Kunihiko Moriguchi, continues his father's work as a yūzen kimono artist.
Style
Yūzen-dyed items are usually very colorful, but Moriguchi's works are not. His designs are classic, and seem like they were painted. His themes are usually inspired by the natural world, especially chrysanthemums.
Moriguchi is best known for using the makinori (sprinkled rice paste) method of dying. This method involves sprinkling flakes of zinc-infused paste to fabric and then resist dying it. When the paste is removed it leaves a delicately spotted, mist-like pattern. This is actually a technique from the Edo period that was forgotten, but Moriguchi replicated the technique after he saw a kosode at the Tokyo National Museum. He originally thought that he could learn from a lacquer artist because they sprinkle gold fragments on some finished pieces, but he was unable to find a teacher. He instead replicated the makinori technique after much trial and error.
Museums that hold Moriguchi's work include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.