“Wake-up time” Formed with Tōso and Polychromy
- Dolls
- Presented in 2015
- H 33.0 x W 20.0 x D 16.0 cm
- Sold Out
Tōso Over Wooden Core with Polychromy
The doll is formed with tōso over a wooden core. Japanese traditional paper is pasted, and the process of applying whitewash and polishing is repeated.
For the final touch, purple natural mineral pigment is applied and gold powder is sprinkled to express dawn.
I made this around my 20th year of making tōso dolls when I was at my turning point. I completed this doll after much trial and error.
I expressed the wakening of my inner self.
| Category | Dolls |
|---|---|
| Year Presented | 2015 |
| Dimensions | H 33.0 x W 20.0 x D 16.0 cm |
| Exhibition | The 62nd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition |
| Awards | Japan Kōgei Association Chairman's Award |
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Tōso dolls
Tōso dolls (tōso ningyō) are made of a modeling compound called tōso (a mixture of paulownia sawdust and paste) attached to a core of solid paulownia. Tōso can be freely fashioned while soft to produce all manner of forms. The molded forms are thoroughly dried before use to ensure that they won’t warp.
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Saishiki
“Coloring.” Paint is applied directly to the body of the doll.
Yousai Inoue
1. My source of creation is insatiable curiosity and spirit of inquiry. My imagination is added to this, a theme is born, followed by the form and colors. 2. A doll is made in the form of a human, but I want to keep it dreamy in a way. I want to make pure, beautiful and cute dolls that people would want to keep beside them for a long time. 3. I mainly use wooden core covered with tōso (mixture of paulownia sawdust and paste) to make the dolls, but I sometimes make papier- mâché dolls and carved wooden dolls. 4. I cover the dolls with paper or cloth. Recently, I use mineral pigments and urushi lacquer to paint the dolls. 5. I started using urushi lacquer because of its excellent durability. I hope my dolls will remain as they are now even after I'm gone..