KABUKI KIMONO
Six spectacular kimonos belonging to the kabuki actor Bandō Tamasaburō V will be on display in the Textiles Gallery for a year. Tamasaburō is the most popular and celebrated onnagata (male actor who performs female roles) currently on stage.
The costumes selected reflect the wide variety of roles in this actor's long and celebrated theatre career, from court ladies and courtesans to geisha and demons.
You'll see beautifully crafted costumes that showcase a range of elaborate textile techniques, including weaving, dyeing, embroidery and hand-painting.
Image: Left: costume for the Courtesan Agemaki. Photo © Takashi Kashihara. Right: stage performance. Photo © Naotake Fukuda. Image above: Left & centre: costume for the Courtesan Agemaki. Photos © Takashi Kashihara. Right: stage performance. Photo © Naotake Fukuda.
The over-robe for the courtesan Agemaki in the play Sukeroku, Flower of Edo (助六由縁江⼾桜), shown below, was worn at a performance in June 2004 at the Kabukiza Theatre, Tokyo. It features New Year's decorations on black satin and the courtesan's sash has a carp ascending a waterfall embroidered on a pale blue-green satin ground.
The costumes selected reflect the wide variety of roles in this actor's long and celebrated theatre career, from court ladies and courtesans to geisha and demons.
You'll see beautifully crafted costumes that showcase a range of elaborate textile techniques, including weaving, dyeing, embroidery and hand-painting.
Image: Left: costume for the Courtesan Agemaki. Photo © Takashi Kashihara. Right: stage performance. Photo © Naotake Fukuda. Image above: Left & centre: costume for the Courtesan Agemaki. Photos © Takashi Kashihara. Right: stage performance. Photo © Naotake Fukuda.
The over-robe for the courtesan Agemaki in the play Sukeroku, Flower of Edo (助六由縁江⼾桜), shown below, was worn at a performance in June 2004 at the Kabukiza Theatre, Tokyo. It features New Year's decorations on black satin and the courtesan's sash has a carp ascending a waterfall embroidered on a pale blue-green satin ground.
These kabuki kimonos are all hand-made by skilled craftsmen and each involved a highly personalised process of creative consultation between the actor and maker.
To mark Kabuki Kimono opening, there is a special lunchtime Kabuki Concert at the Museum on Tue 21 Nov from 1-2pm. Tickets are on sale.
Kabuki Kimon will be on show at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford from 21 Nov 2023 – 8 Dec 2024.
Find out more:
www.ashmolean.org/exhibition/kabuki-kimono
Kabuki Kimon will be on show at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford from 21 Nov 2023 – 8 Dec 2024.
Find out more:
www.ashmolean.org/exhibition/kabuki-kimono