About one year ago, Kimiko Gunji, the director of the University of Illinois Japan House, contacted the Spurlock Museum staff asking if we would have a small display area in which a few Japanese kimonos could be exhibited in the fall of 2003. From that first simple email has sprung a full-blown focus gallery exhibit and a related series of special events called “Kimono Fantasy.”

The exhibit is titled “Luxurious Layers: Kimonos of the Heian Court.” On display are two reproductions of 11th century court costumes, including accessories. (As silk garments such as these last only 200 years, there are no surviving original garments.) The man’s costume is fully assembled on a mannequin created by the Museum’s collections management team. The woman’s costume consists of twelve separate layers, most of which are displayed individually, so that visitors can see the detail in each.

The members of the Japanese Heian Court (794-1185) prided themselves on their skills in music, writing, and designing costumes that reflected their observations of nature. Clothing decoration imitated the colors and plant patterns deemed appropriate for each season, a tradition that continues to this day. For example, chrysanthemum is a fall design and pine is a winter design.

Creating the exhibit was a true team effort. Collections staff developed the look of “Luxurious Layers” and mounted the exhibit on pedestals and stands created in the Museum’s wood shop. Registration and administration staff worked on the details necessary to receive the kimonos, loaned by the Hakubi Kyoto Kimono School in Japan. Education staff worked with teachers at the School to gather information for the exhibit labels and developed three tours involving the exhibit that have been offered to regional schools. Information technology staff created and produced the labels.

“ Luxurious Layers: Kimonos of the Heian Court” will be on display through Saturday, December 13th. For information on the special events in the Kimono Fantasy series, go to www.spurlock.uiuc.edu/kimono.

The exhibit is complete and ready for
visitors.