We at MEGUMI OGITA GALLERY are, for the 5th time in 3 years, proud to present Aya Cagiu's "The Layers of Stories."

Graduating from Tama Art University in 2001, the artist earned a degree in sculpture and continued unto making embroidered works.
From ancient times, embroidery has been understood as a having auspicious and talismanic qualities for prayer, which could protect the greater community, families and individuals.
Written in the Asuka Period (538-710 AD) to honor Prince Shotoku's death, the Tenjukokushu (or, The Tenjukuni Embroidery Book) is known as Japan's oldest relic. Furthermore, in observing cave paintings and the decorations in burial mounds, painting was understood as a way to connect spiritually with nature.

However, in an age of mass-production, technology and digitalization, the traditional idea of embroidery as prayer has changed under the current states of the modern world. As such, by placing emphasis upon the ritualistic act of stitching, Cagiu seeks to realize the essence of a prayer in modernity. Transcending time and place, the universal and humanistic character of these embroidered works conjures up univocal emotions of grief and joy.

"The conch I found on the beach, the small rock I picked up by the river.
Imagine a story of a timeless place and follow the shapes, colors and patterns of nature's creation.
As the thread weaves in and out the fabric, it sews the air, emotion and time of the moment."

Named after Anthony Doerr's "All the Light We Cannot See", the exhibition will feature Cagiu's 20 new works, which were all inspired by nature.

Using silk in the majority of her works, the artist believes that "there is something right in nature that I want to learn from." Produced by silkworms, the thread emerges warm and soft, while the completed fabric feels like human skin. Soothed by the breath-like sounds of threading, the artist notes the comfort in the process of creation. Although silk is a difficult material to work with, its unique luster, beautiful color and power further extends the charm, sophistication and poetry of these works.

In a world that is overwhelmed by information, that which was once indispensable to us, -that is, imagination, feeling and touch,- are now being lost. Thus, as a way to reaffirm and reinvigorate these fundamental notions, please take care and join us by partaking in Aya Cagiu's new solo exhibition, "The Layers of Stories".