Yoko Kawabata: Natural Inspiration

Using traditional craft skills to make textile artwork that draw on and respect the balance of nature, Yoko Kawabata derives inspiration from the world’s colourful beauty as embodied by flowers, birds, oceans, sunlight and rainbows.

By using natural fibres, recycled fabric and found objects, Yoko’s visually striking pieces experiment with a time-honoured craft to push beyond traditional weaving boundaries.

Emphasising how the Warp threads encounter the Weft threads to create unique textile art, Yoko feels that the Warp threads (vertical threads) are like our lifespan. Life expectancy varies for each person. All projects end when a whoever reaches the end of the Warp threads. The various Weft threads (horizontal threads) are like the people and life events we encounter while pursuing our unique life path providing beauty and opportunities to embrace the unexpected.