Beyond Beyond

Beyond Beyond is a solo exhibition of Ai Kijima, a contemporary artist whose riotous collages of figures, patterns and colors are made from meticulously pieced and fused textiles.

In her work from the early 2000s, she used scraps of bed sheets, curtains, clothing and dish towels collected from thrift stores to create artworks that depict a variety of characters ranging from American cartoons to Japanese anime. Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, Kijima is fascinated by the patterns and imagery of fabrics from around the globe.

Beyond Beyond reflects Kijima’s interest in how the melding of traditional craft and popular imagery reflects a culture’s history, preoccupations and social politics.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.