Atelier Shimura's 9th Anniversary "Celebration of Color - Because of a Single Purple"

Atelier Shimura was founded in November 2016, and thanks to the support of everyone, we will be celebrating our 9th anniversary this year (2025). We have also opened a new gallery and school in Setagaya, Tokyo, and are beginning our activities in a new location.

The theme of this year's event is "A Celebration of Color - Because of the Source of Purple." Purple gets its color from the root of the purple plant, safflower. It is said that purple plants once grew wild in Musashino. The following poem, which appears in the Kokin Wakashu, shows the connection to this area.

"Because of a single purple grass, I look at the grasses of Musashino with deep affection."

Atelier Shimura Tokyo Setagaya is also located in the former Musashino area. We have planned this exhibition with the ties that exist in this area in mind.

Next year, Atelier Shimura will celebrate its 10th anniversary. Based on traditional Japanese dyeing and weaving techniques, we will continue to work even more diligently to convey to society the beauty of the colorful world nurtured by plants. We look forward to seeing you there.

Date and time: October 31st (Friday) - November 18th (Tuesday) 12:00 - 17:30
Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays Venue Atelier Shimura Gallery & School Setagaya, Tokyo 6-17-7 Soshigaya, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

Items on display and for sale: New eboshi kimono, new Mina obi "tanpopo", new colored obijime and obiage, 9th anniversary special edition "Shiki no Ka - Murasaki", plant-dyed brooch "Tsudsumigusa", etc.

For inquiries, please contact: tel: 03-6411-1215 or email: gallery@ateliershimura.co.jp

Learn more

<9th Anniversary Exhibition Related Events>

■Talk Event
We will be hosting a talk event with Manabu Nishimura, chairman of the Mitaka Purple Grass Restoration Project (Mitaka City), which is working to revive purple grass, a plant that once grew wild in Musashino, and Masashi Shimura, president of the project. The talk will cover a wide range of topics, including the history of purple grass, the relationship between purple and Musashino, and cultivation methods, all based on practical experience. There will also be time for a question and answer session, so we look forward to seeing you there.

Date and time: Sunday, November 2nd, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Venue: Atelier Shimura Gallery & School, Setagaya, Tokyo Participation fee: 2,200 yen (tax included)
Number of applicants: 15 people

*Participants will receive a bookmark made from a small piece of purple cloth.
*Part of the content of the talk event will be streamed on YouTube at a later date.

For details and to apply for the talk event, please click here

■Special Workshop: "Shikon Dyeing and Thread Making Workshop"
When you massage the roots of the purple safflower (Phalaenopsis serrata) into hot water, you will be rewarded with a soft, elegant color along with a unique fragrance. After dyeing, you will join us in making the connecting thread used in Fukumi Shimura's early masterpiece, "Autumn Haze," as well as in Atelier Shimura items. Experience the purple color that has captivated people since ancient times and the spirit of handicrafts linked to folk art.

For details and to apply for the half-day dyeing and connecting thread making course, click here

For details and to apply for the one-day dyeing, connecting thread making and weaving course, click here