©︎Veronika Vlková, Jan Šrámek, courtesy of Kyuryudo

To celebrate the publication of the picture book "Indigo Apolenka" (Kyuryudo), we will be exhibiting and selling by the meter 13 kinds of pretty fabrics with motifs of plants and animals from Viorka, a brand that introduces traditional Czech indigo dyeing to Japan. The indigo fabrics, with their beautiful contrast between deep navy blue and vivid white, are made using the stencil dyeing technique, which uses Indian indigo and wooden relief stencils. They are produced in the oldest surviving indigo dyeing workshop in the Czech Republic, located in Olšenice, a town in the Vysočina region .
We will also be exhibiting framed copies of the picture book, Czech national costume aprons, Czech indigo-dyed kimonos and obi. We also have a limited edition special edition of the picture book "Indigo-dyed Apollenka," so we hope you will take this opportunity to take a look.

[Tokyo Exhibition]
Date and time: Friday, January 19th, 2024 to Sunday, January 21st, 2024, 11:00-17:00 *Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays
Venue: Atelier Shimura Shop & Gallery, Seijo, Tokyo
157-0066 2-20-7 Seijo, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Rie Ogawa ( Violca) Presence date: Sunday, January 21st
Inquiry tel: 03-6411-1215 email: info@ateliershimura.co.jp

[Kyoto Exhibition]
Date and time: November 17th (Friday) to December 5th (Tuesday) 12:00-18:00 *Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays, open on public holidays
Venue: Atelier Shimura Shop & Gallery Kyoto Main Store 600-8018 Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Shimogyo Ward, Kawaramachi-dori Shijo Sagaru Ichinomachi 251-2 Kotobuki Building 2F
Rie Ogawa ( Violka) Presence date: November 17th (Fri) - 19th (Sun)
Inquiry tel: 075-585-5953 email: info@ateliershimura.co.jp
The Kyoto exhibition has now finished. Thank you very much.

Organized by Atelier Shimura, Viorka, Kyuryudo Co., Ltd.

Here is a list of fabrics that will be on display and for sale at the venue.

<Special exhibition related events>

[Seijo, Tokyo] Talk event "Getting to know the Czech Republic - Culture and Crafts"
Rie Ogawa (Head of Viorka) × Masashi Shimura (Representative of Atelier Shimura)

We will be holding a talk event with Rie Ogawa, founder of Viorka and translator of "Apolenka: Indigo Dyeing," and Masashi Shimura, president of Atelier Shimura. While touching on the history and culture of Czech crafts, they will talk about the traditional Czech indigo dyeing method "Blue Print," which has more than 200 years of history and is made using Indian indigo and relief wooden molds with the stencil dyeing technique, and about efforts to pass it on to the next generation.

Date and time: Sunday, January 21st, 16:00-17:30
Venue: Atelier Shimura Shop & Gallery, Seijo, Tokyo
Participation fee: 1,100 yen (tax included)
Capacity: 20 people

Apply here

[Kyoto Main Store] Talk event "About Czech Indigo Dyeing"
Rie Ogawa (Head of Viorka) × Masashi Shimura (Representative of Atelier Shimura)

Date and time: Sunday, November 19th, 10:00-11:30
Venue: Atelier Shimura Shop & Gallery Kyoto Main Store
Participation fee: 1,100 yen (tax included)
Capacity: 15 people
The talk event in Kyoto has now finished. Thank you very much.

About Violka
Viorka is the Czech word for "violet." We are introducing the rare Czech indigo dyeing, which has a tradition of over 200 years and is now being made by only a few craftsmen, to Japan. Czech indigo dyeing is as delicate as violets blooming in the fields, and is a gentle addition to everyday life. Viorka proposes a lifestyle that incorporates Czech indigo dyeing.
https://www.violka.jp/

<Picture book "Indigo-dyed Apollenka">

This story conveys the spirit of the indigo dyeing tradition and techniques that have been loved by local people and passed down and protected for generations, along with beautiful watercolor illustrations that express their character.
This is the winner of the Czech Grand Design Best Illustrator Award. Textile artist Fukumi Shimura has contributed words to the obi.

The baton I received from my mother was indigo in color.
Time passes and the next runner comes into view.
Now is the time to pass the baton on without dropping it.
For some reason, the Czech Republic has always been an unforgettable place, but I feel like I have now solved that mystery.

Shimura Fukumi

Synopsis
An elderly man and woman who run an indigo dyeing workshop and live with their two cats are worried that they have no successor to pass on their traditional techniques. On a Sunday walk, the couple find a completely dirty red-haired doll. Miraculously, after the doll is cleaned, it transforms into a hungry girl the next morning and is given the name "Apollenka," which means "girl of light." Apollenka then begins her life in the workshop, but when she sees her grandfather's work and the deep blue of the indigo dye liquid, as deep as the universe, she realizes her own mission and resolves to protect the tradition of indigo dyeing.

"Indigo-dyed Apollenka" Special Edition
Limited to 300 copies
By Romana Kosztková
Illustrations by Veronika Vlkova and Jan Sramek
Translated by Rie Ogawa
Published by Kyuryudo
Retail price: 4,180 yen (tax included)
A4 modified foil stamping back seam cross binding

On sale at Atelier Shimura Kyoto main store, Tokyo Seijo store, and online store during the exhibition period.

Online store here

We received a message from Mr. Marcin Kurcar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Japan.

"The ancient indigo dyeing technique represents a unique and unexpected connection between Japan and the Czech Republic. This technique has been practiced in the Czech Republic for over 200 years and has an equally interesting and long history in Japan. In the hands of indigo dyeing enthusiasts in both countries, this poetic craft continues to be preserved and developed. In 2018, five Central European countries, including the Czech Republic, were nominated to have the resist block printing and indigo dyeing techniques registered as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
However, since the 20th century, we have to admit that the survival of traditional indigo dyeing has been in a difficult situation in both countries. The number of indigo dyeing workshops has drastically decreased, and the craftsmen who inherit the traditional techniques are aging. Therefore, I highly value all activities that let many people know about this beautiful tradition and discover its charm.
As part of this initiative, the exhibition has been carefully prepared, and at the exhibition you can see Czech national costumes and kimonos and obi sashes made from Czech indigo dyeing. And no less importantly, the Japanese version of the beautiful picture book "Apolenka: Indigo Dyeing" by Romana Koštková, Veronika Vlková and Jan Šramek has been completed thanks to the efforts of Japanese people who love Czech indigo dyeing, Atelier Shimura, Kyuryudo and especially Ms. Rie Ogawa of Viorka. The obi of the book also includes a message from Fukumi Shimura, a leading Japanese dyeing and weaving expert. This picture book explains the traditional dyeing process to children and even adults in an easy-to-understand way, like a fairy tale.
We live in a modern society where we are exposed to standardization, automation and constant acceleration. However, experts and ordinary people know that handicrafts still have a lot of potential today. Czech indigo dyeing has successfully resisted modern society. I hope that indigo dyeing will continue to develop so that generations can enjoy its beauty. I believe that the picture book "Apolenka's Indigo Dye" will help make that happen.