Vast Lives Episode 42: Reita Moriya
Reinventing an Ancient Japanese Craft - Indigo by Reita Moriya
Steve and Reita discuss his early years doing his best to help his aging father whilst realizing that only later in life he would get to follow his true passion. Not only did he pursue what he loved most by traveling the globe learning the various techniques and culture behind Indigo dyeing - he also decided to forge his own path despite skepticism from the community. To reshape an ancient craft into a standalone technique requires courage, tenacity, and deep passion. Reita Moriya is an artist, disruptor, and artisan who has dedicated himself to using indigo as his primary medium, ranging from artwork on canvas to concrete sculptures. Representing a new generation of plasterers, Moriya also fuses traditional Japanese indigo coloring with modern plastering techniques. His work speaks to the viewer in abstract ways while maintaining a profound, tangible presence. In Japanese, "Ai" is a homonym for both "indigo" and "love." It is Moriya's hope that your day-to-day life will be filled with both.