A roving UHub photographer reports the MFA had this "try on a kimono" event this evening - that got crashed by a man and a woman who tried to convince participants they were being racists by trying on kimonos or even just looking at paintings of people in kimonos - by participating in "yellowface." He was not impressed:
I got the feeling they were trying to upset people, get arrested and then sue the place. The kimono is a symbol of Japanese culture but this one was made by Japanese people for the purpose of sharing culture.
While he was there, at least, they were failing at getting arrested.
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I suspect
By ElizaLeila
Thu, 07/02/2015 - 10:53pm
you did not read Eve's comment from earlier today (1:28 ish):
[This kimono is gift. If you look closely at the MFA handout, it explains that these kimono are gifts from Japan to the museum explicitly for use for people to touch and try on. The Japanese expert fiber artists want other cultures to understand, experience and appreciate their work.
For anyone further interested in Japanese clothing, the book "Kimono" by Liza Dalby is a wonderful piece of scholarship and I highly recommend it.]
Thus, if intended for trying on and checking out, I'd say the MFA is doing their job.
Besides which, fiber archivists truly wouldn't be letting joe schmoe off the street handle artifacts without good reason.
I've tried to point this out
By Michael Kerpan
Thu, 07/02/2015 - 11:57pm
> The Japanese expert fiber artists want other cultures to understand,
> experience and appreciate their work.
Apparently what the Japanese want is unimportant to the critics.
Yes, this is true, the kimono
By Dot net
Fri, 07/03/2015 - 1:06am
Yes, this is true, the kimono is a gift from extraordinarily skilled Japanese crafters. Yet the MFA isn't offering any understanding of the kimono. They have no explanation of it, except that Parisians loved Japanese things back then, and that Monet's wife modeled it for him, and see how heavy it feels to wear. Not very informative.
Instead of educating, they only invite people to try it on and to be photographed. Thus the criticism.
With all due respect....
By Michael Kerpan
Fri, 07/03/2015 - 1:14am
... if the artisans wanted people to experience this replica kimono in this way (baby steps) -- and they surely did -- I see no valid cause for complaint.
Seeing it up close, feeling the material, experiencing the weight, learning generally how it is supposed to be worn -- all of this is elementary kimono education.
Sometimes
By ElizaLeila
Fri, 07/03/2015 - 10:27am
Sometimes you don't need to overwhelm with information.
Looking at, touching, feeling the weight of the fabric: these are all learning tools. Just because a boatload of verbal or written information isn't being handed out doesn't mean people aren't gaining from it. I know I would be transformed to what life must have been like when such a garment was the norm. It's so different from what we demand of our clothing today in the US! We want flexibility, lightness, breathability, style. Trying such a garment on would inform me on how my daily movement would change as a result: my demeanor would change, how I hold myself, etc. All intangibles that no amount of verbage, spoken or written can portray without actual physical interaction. But this is me. I can't know if others would feel the same. You know, maybe I would also think about France's infatuation with Japonisme. And then my brain would leap to England's with the Orient. And fashion trends which change so quickly, then and now. There is much to take home from this exhibit, if you want to.
Self directed learning could be one way to take what's going on here: like art, it is what you say it is. The MFA has planted seeds, each participant is choosing to grow from those seeds (or not), and what the plant becomes is not up to you, but each participant.
ETA: I haven't even mentioned the quality of the work and the intricacies found therein! Techniques which have been in use forever. Another jumping point for learning and appreciation.
I see your point. But I still
By Dot net
Fri, 07/03/2015 - 1:19pm
I see your point. But I still see the protesters' point. I'll try not to repeat myself. I think presenting the kimono without any further context is problematic. And the invitation is to try on the kimono in the European Art gallery, as an accessory to a Monet?
I would happily concede to your point if the kimono trying were in the East Asian Arts gallery, surrounded by other kimonos and examples and explanations of the culture. But it's not.
So, in your opinion...
By Michael Kerpan
Fri, 07/03/2015 - 1:24pm
... the Japanese artisans who wanted the replica kimonos to be used in just the way they were being used at the MFA (to relate to the very-popular-in-Japan Monet painting) had no right to want their work used in this way?
No, that is not my opinion. I
By Dot net
Sat, 07/04/2015 - 9:36pm
No, that is not my opinion. I don't fault the artisans at all. I fault the MFA. They are the curators.
Specifically, I fault the Art of Europe curators. The artisans doubtlessly trust the MFA in their ability to exhibit. I believe that that trust is misplaced, and that the kimono isn't being used properly as the educational piece it could be. And that the MFA should do better.
No, just no...
By Michael Kerpan
Fri, 07/03/2015 - 1:32pm
So, you think the MFA should have accepted the replica kimonos -- and then not used them in the fashion the artisans expected them to be used? To be felt, to be held, to be worn?
No, if you read my other
By Dot net
Fri, 07/03/2015 - 2:54pm
No, if you read my other replies, I'd be happy to have the kimono displayed and to be tried on in the East Asian art galleries of the MFA. That would give proper context and understanding. Not as an accessory to a Monet from the era of colonialism.
You keep saying this
By ElizaLeila
Mon, 07/06/2015 - 11:07am
but earlier in this conversation you said you'd only read the Facebook page and what you'd seen online.
I haven't been to the exhibit, so I can't refute this, but no where have you said you'd actually been. Have you? I'm not trying to attack, I just haven't seen that you have come to this conclusion based upon being there in person vs what the protesters say.
Wednesday, man. I'll see for
By Dot net
Mon, 07/06/2015 - 2:39pm
Wednesday, man. I'll see for myself.
cool.
By ElizaLeila
Mon, 07/06/2015 - 4:03pm
:)
to those offended
By anon
Fri, 07/03/2015 - 9:32am
In the future, please inform yourselves before being offended. As others have pointed out, but you still have yet to directly respond to, the artist wished the kimono to be experienced by visitors to the museum so that they may be educated about beautiful Japanese traditional clothing. Education is a good thing. Sharing ideas and cultural traditions is a positive thing. We are not islands of ourselves. Personally, I don't belive in segregation. If you choose to practice that then that's your choice. However, don't condemn people who choose to learn about other cultures, adopt ideas and traditions from other cultures, marry people from other backgrounds as racists. That's actually quite backwards -- think about it.
Read just above.
By Dot net
Fri, 07/03/2015 - 1:23pm
Read just above.
Yes, the kimono is a priceless gift. No, the MFA isn't offering any education of it, except to try it on. Yes, that is an experience in and of itself. But just inviting people to try on the kimono in the European Art gallery as an accessory to understanding a Monet? Problematic to me.
Being asked to try on the kimono surrounded by other kimonos on exhibit in the East Asian Art gallery? Full of examples and explanations of Japanese culture? Fine by me. But it's not on display in that way.
Not a priceless gift...
By Michael Kerpan
Fri, 07/03/2015 - 1:27pm
... but a generous gift (of more than one replica kimono) which was expected (by the Japanese gift givers) to be used in conjunction with Monet's painting. Why do you (and the actual protesters) choose to ignore this rather basic fact?
I don't choose to ignore the
By Dot net
Fri, 07/03/2015 - 2:58pm
I don't choose to ignore the artisans' wishes. I am dismayed at the MFA's presentation of the kimono out of context without any educational component on the kimono itself.
Side note: I consider the kimono priceless because the skill to produce such an elaborate piece is shrinking fast and not expanding. I suppose I should have said figuratively since there is indeed a price.
A new site by the kimono protesters
By Michael Kerpan
Fri, 07/03/2015 - 12:33pm
White Supremacy Kills: https://twitter.com/hashtag/whitesupremacykills?sr...
No different
By Dannyblanco
Thu, 07/09/2015 - 9:03am
It's no different when people dress as Mexican for Halloween! Which to my opinion is racist. I'm gonna dress myself as a white man this Halloween, oh wait there's no stereotypical way a white man dresses. Hmmm. Maybe a quilt!
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