CushCush Gallery Launches “Colors of Japan,” Celebrating Japanese and Balinese Natural Dyeing Traditions
Denpasar, Bali – Three years after their successful “Colors of Bali” initiative, CushCush Gallery (CCG) is set to embark on a new journey into the world of natural pigments with the launch of “Colors of Japan.” Co-organized with and supported by the Japan Foundation, Jakarta, this program continues CCG’s dedication to natural colors, bringing together master artisans from Japan and local Balinese communities to share knowledge and celebrate cultural artistry.
The “Colors of Japan” program will run over several years and aims to foster cultural collaboration between Indonesia and Japan. This inaugural edition will feature Japanese master artisan Sarasa Yoshioka, heir to the Somenotsuka Yoshioka atelier. This renowned natural dyeing studio has preserved Kyoto’s traditional dyeing methods for over 200 years. Yoshioka will share her expertise in Bali through workshops, community exchanges, and an exhibition of her stunning works in natural dyes.
The exhibition, “Colors Everywhere,” co-curated by Japanese art researcher Takahiro Kaneshima, will showcase Yoshioka’s intricate dyeing work alongside selected Indonesian and Indian textiles from her atelier’s private collection. Running at CushCush Gallery from December 7, 2024, to January 12, 2025, this exhibition highlights the universal language of color and its power to connect cultures worldwide. Following its Bali debut, the exhibition will travel to the Japan Foundation in Jakarta from January 24 to February 7, 2025.
The showcase will include a dynamic lineup of activities designed to deepen the understanding of natural colors. As part of her visit, Yoshioka will journey to the villages of Sidemen and Tenganan, where she’ll explore their unique textile and dyeing practices—Songket weaving and Gringsing. She will also join local artisans in a workshop, sharing her knowledge and insights on natural dyeing techniques. Additionally, the public will have the chance to learn more about Yoshioka’s craft and the fascinating world of natural dyes during a special curatorial talk at CCG on December 7, 2024.
This partnership between CushCush Gallery and the Japan Foundation, Jakarta, is a meaningful cultural initiative designed to deepen Indonesia-Japan relations while celebrating the shared beauty of traditional crafts and natural colors.
For more information about the “Colors of Japan” program and the “Colors Everywhere” exhibition, visit CushCush Gallery or contact info@cushcushgallery.com.
Sarasa Yoshioka
Sarasa Yoshioka is a textile dyer and the sixth-generation head of Somenotsukasa Yoshioka (or Textiles Yoshioka) in Kyoto. After working as a sales representative at a clothing store, she spent about two years learning dyeing, weaving, sericulture, silk reeling, and silk throwing at the Silk Museum in Seiyo City, Ehime Prefecture. She returned to Kyoto in 2008 and began working in natural dyeing with her father Sachio Yoshioka. She is engaged in a wide range of work, including creating artwork for hotels and airports as well as annual events held at old shrines and temples.
