JUNKO HISHIKAWA
INDIGO
The encounter with Indigo was in 2015.
Until then, because I worked in full-time and I almost wasn't be in my home, I couldn't touch to it. Indigo was an admiration and it was a presence above the clouds for me..
The chance was to quit the company, and joining in fermented indigo workshop of the EarthNetwork.
I thought that I could not face Indigo with a thought of irresponsible and straight and precious mind to Indigo is the most important for me.
I asked to teacher again and again,and after I could understand the outline the fermentation of indigo, I tried to ferment of Ryukyu Ai and Sukumo Ai.
On July of that year, I decided to join the workshop of making the precipitate of indigo in Motobu area of Okinawa,it is why I made fermented Ryukyu Ai vat. After that, I got (19 years old!) Sukumo Ai from the senior of textiles, and I made fermented Sukumo Ai vat. That Sukumo Ai moved with me from Nara to Azumino city, and now it still lives well.
For the preparation and sustain of indigo vat, I use ash,lime(switch to shell lime),wheat bran,pH meter, thermometer.
Because it is set in outside now without heating, the bacteria of indigo hibernates while almost November to April.
This spring(2017), I will dig the ground, and set the indigo vat in the under ground as like Indian people in Kutch area(north desert area) . I think it is more efficient way in order to keep warmth of indigo vat.
Definitely, I never feel like I have understood it forever...
Everyday, facing indigo, I will search for the best way to create the environment for indigo and how to dye.I feel the never ending interest of Indigo.
I do appreciate for encounter with Indigo in my life.
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