Rice crops produce straw, a natural byproduct of the dried grain. Traditionally, the material could be used for a wide variety of objects tatami mats from food packaging to carrier bags. Many of those products are now made from synthetic materials, and rice straw is more commonly used for ceremonial or sacred decorations such as Shinto shimenawa garlands, which are placed around the turn of the year and can have a length of a few centimeters to several meters.
For Tokyo-based artist ARKORice straw finds a contemporary application in elegant wall hangings. “I started thinking that it must be something new, separate from the old traditions, as there must be a reason why straw disappeared from our lives,” she says.
Interested in the organic nature of the medium, ARKO embraces how changes in the environment can affect the appearance of the work, serving as a reminder that the fibers come from the ground. Sometimes the moisture in the air makes the pieces feel heavy or the straw gives off an odor. She usually retains the natural color of the thin stems, occasionally painting layers of black or using contrasting strings to hold the composition together.
“In modern times, straw has been replaced by artificial materials and is manufactured with the premise of environmental pollution. (It) is mass produced and thrown away in large quantities,” ARKO says. Although she does not prescribe any ritual meaning to the work, the sculptures evoke “the laws of nature and the great power of life that are often overlooked in modern society where economics is paramount.”
ARKO is represented by Somewhere Tokyoand you can find more work about her website And Instagram.
