http://www.woodreview.com.au 45PROFILETabibito: Memory of Life
In Japanese tabibito means ‘journeyman’ and the sense
of discovery within this complex piece as each exploration
leads to the next reflects Shinobu Kobayashi’s message
that we should ‘never stop learning as we keep travelling
to the next place’. The materials and construction methods
used reflect the cultures they derive from, a reflection
of the maker’s journey which he describes in the photo
captions below.
1 In Japan, we have a wrapping culture from long ago and
people wrap things to carry them on a journey...so my
cube is also wrapped with Japanese traditional indigo
dyed cloth called furoshiko.
2 When the cloth is opened a box appears. The box was
made from Japanese aizu paulownia, traditionally used
for sashimono boxes and furniture.
3 On the top of the aizu paulownia box the lettering says:
Danish Cabinetmakers Association on one side, and
handcrafted by Shinobu Kobayashi on the other.
4 The box opens to reveal another wrapped object.
5 Another furoshiko cloth is unwrapped to finally reach
the Tabibito cube. Using ancient redgum symbolises
the start of my woodworking in Australia.
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