Abstract of Commemorative lecture
One Life, One Thread, and One Piece of Cloth: The Work of Issey Miyake
I have always lived by the motto, "don't look back." I live in the present and look to the future. I was born in Hiroshima and experienced the atomic bomb; I have worked to transform all that experience into an energy and joy whose goal is only to celebrate life. I learned from many people: from my mother, above all, who told me to go forward without fear and with courage; from the dear art teacher at my elementary school, who first introduced me to the joy of creativity; and from the many great mentors whom I have had the great fortune to know and by whom I have been influenced throughout my career; by many good friends. I have also experienced a series of events, each of which has been a source of a major turning point in my life. I believe that my work and the person I am today are the products of each experience and of the guidance of all those whom I have met along the way.
In my speech at the Kyoto Prize Commemorative Lecture, I plan to trace the many unforgettable encounters that, like warp threads, have woven the weft threads of my work. I will begin with "One Piece of Cloth", a concept I arrived at early on, after having searched for a link between the Eastern and Western cultures, and also discuss my approach to tradition and innovation. This touchstone of A Piece of Cloth has lead to many experiments and evolutionary phases in my work, which has often changed dramatically every eight to ten years. Finally, I will talk about my new work and the next project upon which I am embarking. Through this series of threads, the different fibers of my life's work, I hope to be able to convey the joy I have always had from the simple act of making things.
