FUROSHIKI

A solo exhibit by Catherine Salazar

Furoshiki wrapping cloths have been a part of Japanese culture for centuries. They were used to protect sacred objects and served as a symbol of status, often bearing the crests of wealthy families. The modern furoshiki has become a decorative staple, turning the simplest of packages into both a craft object and endeavor. Yet for however creative it is in design, the furoshiki is just as innovative in function.

Our dependency on plastic packaging has grown in recent years, stressing the need for more environment-friendly substitutes. More than aesthetics, the furoshiki provides an avenue for such sustainability as a reusable wrapping, which has allowed it to endure as an art form. This combination of craftsmanship, design, and resourcefulness inspired Catherine Salazar to highlight the furoshiki for her third solo show.

A painter of delicate surfaces, the artist sets her keen eye on the furoshiki. For Salazar, they reflect the beauty and resilience of fabrics – folding and creasing with grace, yet exuding a quiet strength in the way they conceal. She calls attention to the artistry of furoshiki wrapping, from the delicate nature of each cloth, to the skillfulness in their arrangements. In her works, the wrapping is the object of beauty, allowing us to pause before the unwrapping and appreciate what we often are too eager to strip away.

In “Furoshiki,” Salazar depicts an alternative to such a ubiquitous aspect of consumer culture. Its beauty lies not just in its form, but its longevity. With our growing dependency on single-use plastics, the environmental crisis looms even heavier on our shoulders. The furoshiki serves as a reminder that not only are there better alternatives, but that wrapping can be an art – one that promises beauty and tradition over waste.

 – Mara Fabella

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Catherine Salazar (b.1994) who hails from Valenzuela City, is a graduate of Technological University of the Philippines with a degree in Fine Arts. She has been a consistent winner and finalist in various prestigious art competitions such as the National Shell Art Competition, Metrobank Art and Design Excellence, and Petron Painting Competition from 2011 to 2018.