Competition Etching Fashion Graduates Printmaking

Gradspotters Prospects | Kiri Horikiri-White

posted by Robyn Pitts November 28, 2023

Our brand new platform, Gradspotters, is dedicated to launching and marking new talents into the world of printmaking and design. We are currently welcoming applications from recent graduates who are looking for a stepping stone to sucess with their print-related career. Benefits of the platform include social media and blog shares, personalised mentorship, and inclusion in our printed magazine.

Below, we check out the work of one of our applicants so far, Kiri Horikiri-White, an artist and printmaker who explores ideas surrounding identity, memory, heritage, and (not) belonging.

Kiri’s work is a celebration of her dual Japanese and English heritage. One project that exemplifies this is KI(NAI)MONO 着(ない)物 (which translates to ‘something to not wear’). The piece has been designed and created in loving memory of Kiri’s English grandparents and Japanese grandma. KI(NAI)MONO’s intricate design embraces difference through looking at traditional English and Japanese iconography and mixing them together, alongside motifs that represent my treasured childhood memories of both English and Japanese sides of her family and heritage.

Kiri has physically presented KI(NAI)MONO 着(ない)物 as an art piece, rather than a piece of clothing. The making process helped her to process complex and strong emotions that come with the grief of losing family, as well as her confusing feelings about being mixed ethnicity. She tells us; “After completion, and naturally working through these difficult emotions through the making process, I had the overwhelming feeling to take a step back and distance myself physically- both from the emotions, and therefore from the artwork.” For Kiri, this was a necessary step in order to process and move on within the grieving process, and to fondly remember all these happy but bittersweet memories. Therefore, she does not wish to wear the kimono going forward, thus has named the piece KI(NAI)MONO 着(ない)物, something to not wear.

KI(NAI)MONO 着(ない)物 was created using oil paints on thin pattern paper, which were then digitally printed onto viscose satin. The fabric was then etched onto using the copperplate etching process, then finally digitally embroidered.

Feeling inspired? Forge your future in the print industry and apply here.