A piscine narrative

Ikat weaving is an age-old technique where yarns are resist-dyed before being woven to create intricate patterns with vibrant colors. It is an ancient art form that has been passed down through generations. My assignment draws inspiration from the ocean and its marine life, particularly the use of fish motifs. My color choices and concept were influenced by Hokusai’s woodblock print, “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” I embraced the challenge of interpreting this inspiration through the medium of Ikat weaving. Completed in a span of 4 weeks, A resist-dyeing technique is used on the yarns before they are woven into fabric. The yarns are tightly bound in the desired pattern and then dyed. The bindings can be altered and the yarns dyed again with another color to create new patterns. This process was repeated twice to produce intricate, multicolored designs.