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Description

Rectangular black cotton cloth with an abstract pattern of applique and embroidery in white red and orange, with some green and yellow stitching.

Iconographic Meaning

The pattern is emblematic of an owl, specifically Blakiston’s fish owl as a deity known as kotan-kor-kamuy (コタンコルカムイ).

Specific Techniques

Kaparamip (カパラミㇷ゚; cotton clothing) is a type of ceremonial cotton robes made by Ainu people, that has white cut patterns with coloured applique and various types of stitching.

History Of Use

A contemporary embroidery work by Ainu artist Misato Yamada (cikenkio)/山田美郷 (チケンキオ) based on the historical kaparamip (カパラミㇷ゚; cotton clothing) in the collection of the Scotland National Museum. The pattern with the swatches of coloured applique on the right and left of the pattern are emblematic of an owl. She referred to the kaparamip (カパラミㇷ゚; cotton clothing) in the collection of the Scotland National Museum (object no. A.1914.219) featured in the catalogue of an exhibition held in Japan,
「海を渡ったアイヌの工芸　英国人医師マンローのコレクション」(Umi wo watatta Ainu no Kōgei: Eikokujin ishi Manrō no korekushon; A British (Scottish) Physician’s View: Craft and Spirit of the Ainu from the N. G. Munro Collection, 2002, no. 72, p.62). She chose this particular piece as she thought the patterns had similarities to some patterns on Canadian Indigenous works. She had never made such a small piece of work before, and she learnt new things in the process.

Narrative

This work was gifted to Dr. Fuyubi Nakamura, Curator, Asia at MOA, by a delegation of 12 staff members, including the director, of Upopoy (National Ainu Museum and Park) on their visit to MOA on March 22, 2023. The artist was commissioned by Upopoy to create this work specifically for Nakamura. Since Nakamura was in Canada, Yamada looked for works made by Canadian Indigenous artists, which she used for inspiration. Her main focus was to create a work that she hoped Nakamura would enjoy. Ainu language differs from region to region; the ones used in this record are those used by Shiraoi Ainu.