Shadow puppetry is the oldest medium used to present ancient folktales and mythology, dating back hundreds of years and across continents — China, India, Egypt, Turkey, Syria, and France, to mention a few. And now, Kirico brings the ancient art of shadow puppetry to Sarabande's main hall. Shadow puppets were out to play in the evening of 10th May for London Craft Week - a class conducted by Kirico Ueda took us through the production of their own shadow puppets using low lighting.
Kirico Ueda is a multidisciplinary artist who is attracted by folktales, mythology, and theater's magical and primeval force. Kirico uses photography, sculpture, and printing to bring these stories to the forefront of modern art.
Her works have been shown in her solo exhibition ‘Participation Mystique’ in Tokyo in 2020, and several group exhibitions in London, Tokyo and Kyoto. Kirico currently lives and works in London.
Moreover, Sarabande offers its doors to spread Kirico’s passion to others. Sarabande is based in a historic Stable Block conversion in Haggerston, where 15 studios house designers and artists from a variety of fields. Sarabande, the heart of East London's vibrant creative scene, embodies all that is creative. The building is home to a diverse range of artisans, reflecting Lee's diverse range of ability and the number of craftspeople with whom he collaborated on his own collections.
Sculptors, fashion designers, jewellers, textile designers, painters, performance artists, silversmiths, costume designers, ceramicists, and dancers are among their tactile artists. Sarabande also contains filmmakers, animators, photographers, digital designers, and visual artists in addition to these.
Moreover, Sarabande's support extends beyond current and former employees. They have been offering scholarships to students studying at top London universities since 2012. Successful students are selected with the help of an industry expert from the foundation's network for their bold innovation but lack of financial resources. Sarah Burton OBE, Nick Knight OBE, Matthew Slotover, Sadie Coles, Jake Chapman, and Marina Abramovi have all recently worked as experts. Sarabande's scholarship program is the foundation of its work, supporting the education of tomorrow's most innovative creatives.
