Satoko Aoki "Where a good smell stays - light roast" H600×W200×D38mm

dyeing series 2026 Mixed Media Acrylic paints, Japanese mineral pigments, pigments, canvas H600×W200×D38mm Unlike previous "dyeing series" works, this piece takes on a vertical composition reminiscent of a hanging scroll, with bands of deep green at the top and bottom adorned with floral patterns in gold line drawing. The central section, corresponding to the main paper of a scroll, is filled with an off-white ivory, within which a large, dome-like shape unfurls. This dome, with steam rising from a coffee cup at its apex, suggests an umbrella or layers of overlapping leaves. Each individual leaf forming the dome is meticulously rendered with distinct patterns and colors, including deep green, black, light blue, gold, and gray. This evokes the leaves of a coffee plant and the aromatic fragrance of roasted beans, as if visualized. From the center of the dome, a thin line extends straight downwards, embracing a small creature nestled with a single coffee bean. Further down, a small pot-like shape is formed. Around the line, soft white curves, resembling steam, and scattered coffee bean motifs are gently added. The title, "Where Good Scents Reside," is an attempt to depict the very aroma of coffee—the scent extracted from beans and rising upwards—as a visible scene. The subtitle, "light roast," is believed to symbolize the quality of that aroma: the light, refreshing, bright flavor characteristic of a light roast coffee. The way a single wisp of steam rising from a cup quietly expands into a vast world, connecting from bean to leaf and to the plant itself, captures a rich scene from an ordinary moment of daily life, much like a single painting. As stated in the artist's statement, this work is also an attempt to reproduce the "blurring" and "shibori" unique to dyeing techniques, as well as the fine line drawing of Yuzen dyeing, using acrylic paints, Japanese mineral pigments, and canvas, without employing actual dyeing methods. 【Artist's Comment】 This series by Satoko Aoki, a former textile artist, focuses on the "concept" of dyeing. It is a new endeavor to "express dyeing without actually dyeing." Using popular painting materials such as acrylic paints on canvas, this work reproduces the blurring and shibori techniques unique to dyeing. It incorporates the Japanese-style design and colors of hanging scrolls, the fine lines of Yuzen dyeing, and all the "goodness of dyeing" that I felt while dyeing, creating a rich piece. As someone who loves dyeing, there might be aspects where it cannot compare to genuine dyed products. However, by expressing dyeing without actually dyeing, we can overcome the challenge of "fading" that often plagues dyed items, creating a series that can preserve the beauty of dyeing for future generations for longer. I hope this series can serve as an opportunity for people to become a little more interested in dyeing.