Our Thursday series features must-read books from each branch of the art bookshop NADiff. This week's book is "Before Weaving: Tapa and Felt." It's introduced by Gallery 5, our Shinjuku branch in Tokyo (3-20-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Opera City Tower, 3rd floor).



■ "Before Weaving: Tapa and Felt"

Textiles have become an essential part of our daily lives. This exhibition showcases a wide variety of weaving techniques, using a variety of materials to suit different purposes. While the emergence of textiles dates back to the Paleolithic period, there are few opportunities to learn about the existence of "primitive fabrics" that were established in some parts of the world even before that time. This book documents research into two "primitive textiles": tapa (bark cloth), a tradition in the South Pacific (including Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia), and felt, a tradition among nomadic peoples in China, Turkey, and Iran, along with images of the actual textiles and descriptions of the lives of local people. Tapa, in particular, differs in design and dyeing methods among South Pacific tribes, and it is fascinating to see the differences that exist within these primitive elements. While tapa and other primitive textiles communicated beliefs and culture through the symbolism of dyeing and weaving, they also played an important role in connecting different tribes. This book provides an opportunity to consider human activities surrounding textiles and the meaning of wearing clothing.