Carp Noren Panel

Noren are curtains placed in doorways, windows, or on walls in traditional Japanese homes. The original function was to prevent dust from coming indoors, indicating whether a store was open or closed, and to provide shade from the sun. Now, they are more commonly used for decoration.

This textile has koi carp imagery, which is an important symbol in Japanese art. The carp represents perseverance due to its ability to swim upstream, and strength. The fish in this piece are swimming upstream and are surrounded by abstractions of water. It is created using the yuzen, or paste-resist, method, and dyed with indigo. This piece is made of ramie, a natural fiber local to eastern Asia.