You are probably tired of hearing this… but here we go. I have been saying that I do not consider myself as an “Artist”. I humbly accept your admiration of our work as “Art”, but we do not consider our Sashiko as “(Fine) Art”. I have explained the reasons here and there, and the primary reason is that Sashiko exist(ed) in the ordinary - beauty in using it. ☆ To be honest, I am tired of those who call their stitching “Sashiko Art” and then excuse themselves from learning. [How dare you tell me what to do in Sashiko] is a true statement, but for me, freedom with ignorance is a form of cultural appropriation. If they call their stitching Sashiko, I want them to learn the Japaneseness behind it. So, I try to balance what I do in between Art and Non-Art. ☆ However, Sashiko masks in Covid-19 changed my perception a little bit. A Sashiko mask may be a form of Art. I am making a Sashiko mask because of how it looks, not because of how practical it is. I wanted to make people smile. I wanted to share the joy of stitching. For that, Sashiko is now categorized as “Art”, and I do not have to put my twisted prejudice. I will keep learning, but Sashiko mask is changing my perception. Well... Please understand how difficult it was(is) to defend my own culture when people kept saying I was overreacting. (Before 2019 Spring, I wasn’t particular about calling myself an Artist. The nasty SNS discussion a year ago changed my perception). So, Sashiko may(can) be an Art. I will dig my new learning more. ☆ - - - ☆ 「刺し子はアート（芸術）じゃないよね。用即美の、民芸の、もっと身近なものだよね」と凝り固まった視点から刺し子と付き合っています。今も基本、考えは変わりません。ただ、刺し子マスクを作る過程で、「あれ？刺し子はアートなのか？」と微妙に考えが揺らいでいます。飛沫防止目的のマスクであれば、刺し子をする必要はない。むしろ刺し子は駄目かもしれない。でも、刺し子をすることによって”何か”を伝えたい。この”何か”こそ、人間がアートを通して世間に訴えることなんじゃないかと。もしそうであれば、あぁ、僕もアーティストなのかもと、ふと思った次第です。まだまだ勉強は続くなぁ。それでも、用即美の、日常の美であるという大前提は変わらないですが、刺し子がアートかもしれないと少しだけ思ったので記念に。 ☆ #Sashiko #JapaneseSashiko #Handmade #Mask #SashikoMask #Meditation #Art #MaskFashion #SashikoArt #SashikoStitching #Asanoha #FabricMask #AnyoneCanmakeMask #刺し子 #マスク #刺し子アート https://www.instagram.com/p/B-7H972JZZ4/?igshid=ch9qsgzr1iuk