1000 Colors Wave

Imabari, Japan

Photo © Daisuke Shima

Installations

Architects: emmanuelle moureaux

Location: Imabari, Japan
Year: 2019

Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture is known for its quality towels and for its leading textile dyeing industry. For the “IMABARI Color Show” introducing the dyeing technology in Imabari City, Emmanuelle revealed an installation "1000 COLORS WAVE", using her own 1000 (one thousand) colors palette specially created for the exhibition. It is the second installation realized for the “IMABARI Color Show” after the 2017-2018 exhibitions in Spiral Garden and Imabari City.

Even though the same water, formula, and environment are utilized during the dyeing process, the slightest change in weather and/or temperature can completely disrupt the result of the pigmentation. However, in the skilled hands of the craftsmen of Imabari, the dye process is so precise, 1000 unique colors of fabrics are possible.

One thousand pieces of textile specially dyed in 1000 different colors covered the 1002 seats of the Imabari City Auditorium, designed by the famous architect Kenzo Tange. The bright colors palette gave off an energy that created an astounding wave of colors which engaged with the ceiling of the public hall.

"1000 COLORS WAVE" was created by the fusion of Emmanuelle's colors with high quality skills of Imabari's dyeing technicians. The technique of "dyeing" and the creation of "1000 colors", multiplied by the delicacy of both have became a grand installation.