Kei Takemura
07.02. - 01.03.2020

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Kei Takemura’s solo show ‘Which leaf is falling?’ is underpinned by her signature technique of ‘renovating’ objects with translucent cloth and silk thread. Her current focus rests on playing cards from different countries and eras, creating works that layer the cards themselves with intricately embroidered fabric and photographs of places that are both everyday and personally meaningful. Takemura will also be exhibiting at Maitland Regional Art Gallery, the Parkview Museum in Singapore, Ichihara Art x Mix in Japan, and the Yokohama Triennale in 2020.

The artist tentatively layers her photographs of buildings, trees and the breakfast table with playing cards that she has collected from across the world. Hearts hover over clubs and soft threaded outlines mimic the the shape of chairs, windows or eggs on toast. Having lived and travelled widely overseas, her collection of playing cards include those from Germany, France and America. She stitches over them the designs of cards from other countries and eras in a continued endeavour to tie together different ages and cultures. She notes that playing cards are produced and used all around the world, and can thus be a tool for connecting with people across languages and cultures. Takemura also dyes her silk thread with Ginkgo leaves in the feature work ‘Gone Ginkgo in Tokyo and Takasaki’, referencing the tree that she trains her photographic lens on. In this way, Takemura ties together disparate things through both material and visual elements. These are made as gestures of healing and navigating memory.