Momoka Gomi

Weaver

©James Gardiner

©Momoka Gomi

©Clare Coe

Seeing the beauty in decay

Momoka fell in love with textiles while studying kimono dressing
She works mainly with cotton denim and silk yarn
To her, ageing and decay are positive notions and a source of inspiration

Born and raised in Tokyo, Momoka Gomi knew early on that she would become a craftswoman. Even when she was a child, she admired people working with their hands. She has always been fascinated by the process of making, no matter the skills, tools and materials involved. At the age of 15, when she joined a two-year course in kimono dressing, she fell in love with textiles. Momoka enrolled in an art degree at university where she focused on weaving. Then she received a scholarship and moved to the UK to complete her studies, exploring different materials and forming her own style. Since then, Momoka has been living in Nottingham, where she set up her studio to hand-weave fabric with a mechanical dobby loom. She works mainly with cotton denim and silk yarn.

Interview

©Clare Coe

©Clare Coe

What do you like the most about weaving?: I love the tactile feeling of it. I like touching fabrics and thinking about how they were made. I love to observe the weaving process, too; it is slow, yet you can see the progress from one thread to the other. And I love exploring new materials, especially for the weft.
Do you have any favourite techniques?: I am a huge fan of plain weaving because it is the simplest structure and allows me to be bold with materials. As for my signature textile, it is denim, that I treat to emphasise ageing. To me, time passing and decay are positive. Sometimes I use gold HTV to add shine to the fabric and symbolise the process of mending.
How would you define your style?: Contemporary. I challenge myself to create something people have never seen before. It is always a joy when someone wonders: “Is this really woven?” My inspiration comes from the passing of time and how people react to it.
Do you prefer creating everyday pieces or artwork?: My interest in textiles has evolved over time. I love everyday pieces because they make materials shine. But recently, I have been working more on art pieces, in which my woven fabric is not trapped in the small boxes of utility. They allow me to concentrate on the textile itself rather than on functionality.

Momoka Gomi is a rising star: she began her career in 2016