Inspiration Board: Ryoan-ji, Kyoto, Japan

Inspired by the idea of wabi sabi (the acceptance of transience and imperfection), I was drawn to the Ryoan-ji rock garden as my main starting point. Being at the site was an experience of peace for me as I forgot about the busy life outside but instead focused on the details and quietness of the garden. The concept of the garden was that from any vantage point one could see 14 out of the 15 large rocks in the garden. 

Artist Inspiration:

From my experience at Ryoan-ji, I wanted to create my own version of the rock garden that would create a space for the view to experience it. The rug was designed to also bring that sense of peace and tranquility to the viewers and that it could be easily rolled open and moved so that its could be viewed in different places by many people. While thinking about how my artwork would live in this work among others, I was inspired by these artists and their works. I was drawn by the space that each art piece created for the viewers to experience and the textures that were created. I wanted my piece to invoke ideas of the nature of imperfections and embracing the nuances in life, slowing down time and the usual expectations in life. 

Final Samples

Samples specifically for explorations before creating the final piece above. Different weave structures and techniques were used to test what would be represent the concept. Different materials were used to deicide the best fit for creating the rug. Portability, and weight were taken into account. Thus, instead of using yarn, leftover brown paper from dressing the loom were used as a way to reuse waste paper and a consideration in the ability to decompress the paper to better roll and transport the rug.