Chicago-based artist Michael Thompson creates unique kites crafted from split bamboo frames covered with stretched muslin and a collage of vintage Asian ephemera—including fragments of fabric, scrolls, drawings, and books collected during his travels.
This kite entitled "Momen Boro," or "cotton rags," is patterned with a patchwork of Japanese cotton fabrics, including dark indigos, woven ikats, and delicate prints. The design references the traditional practice of Boro stitching, wherein the usable portions of worn-out fabrics were carefully mended and stitched together to create new and unexpected textiles. More than just a cost-saving measure, Boro stitching lovingly honors the original materials by giving them new life. The dense collage of fabrics on this kite creates a dynamic composition of clashing patterns and richly saturated colors.
Thompson has earned an international reputation for his kite works, an engrossing project initiated by the artist more than a decade ago.
Split bamboo, muslin, cotton, rice paper, pigment.