My favorite pieces 3

This beautiful piece is a cloisonné Obidome made by Hiroki IWATA.  The title is “Aqueous Surface”.  Obidome is a small decorative accessory that is fastened onto obijime, which is a string that is tied around the obi sash. 

I introduced his works for the first time in the exhibition, “One hundred ObidomeⅢ” in Kyoto 2008.  I had known him for years for his wonderful works.  He was one of my favorite artists.  I asked him many times to join our exhibition and finally agreed to do. Mr. Iwata made 6 wonderful pieces for us.  Those pieces are titled “Rain”, “Snow”, “Moonlit Night”, “Misty Rain”, “Sunshine” and “Aqueous Surface”, his way to expression of nature beauty.

This piece is 3.5cm (H) x 6.0cm (W).  It may look heavier than it is at first sight, but not really.  There is a little ingenuity in the clasp on the back.  So this piece is both visually nice-looking and functionally satisfying.

It has always been a challenge for me to create works with visually nice-looking and functionally satisfying.  Now I am engaged in making buttons, and the same here.

Obidome "Aqueous Surface"

Hiroki IWATA

http://buttonhouse.jp