Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam- "Takino Rainbow Nest"

ETN Textile Forum
3/2013 September copy

Part of the 'fiberarts' movement, Toshiko developed her love of experimentation; specifically how art can have a practical and interactive use. She has displayed a number of her installations across Japan which have all incorporated this theme and were composed from a combination of both hand crocheted nets and large machine-knotted nylon nets.

The bold, striking colours incorporated into the design by Toshiko create a playful and exciting vibe to draw attention to the installations and make it attractive to children. The repeat hexagonal shapes seen on the image to the left are intended to invoke the 'safety of the mother's womb' and create a familiar and comfortable environment for them to communicate naturally with other children.
The repeated shape created by the act of crocheting the material creates a strong link sturdy enough to support great weights so is not only practical but aesthetically appealing. While the colours themselves are very artificial, the shapes created within bring to mind a more organic feel; perhaps similar to the geometrical patterns visible in a beehive, the idea of the repeat.

What is perhaps most impressive about Toshiko is her ability to work on such a grand scale and the legacy that her work leaves on an area. One of her 'play sculptures' (The Hakone) lasted for 28 years and was used by as many as 6000 children everyday, and another ("Knitted Wonder Space II") weighed in at over 1,000 kilogrammes and measure 15x9metres. Toshiko can be praised for her craftsmanship and perseverance for creating such grand sculptures largely by her own hands, refusing to give into machinery and modern technology.