Satellite Voices

Tokyo

Audrey Fondecave Tsujimura: Mouchoirs

March 6, 2012

The editor and artist conjures up a heartwarming show at Pass The Baton in Omotesando

• Text by Sophie Jackson

Pass The Baton is a little gem nestled two floors below ground in one of Tokyo’s busiest shopping districts, Omotesando. A veritable cabinet de curiosité offering an eclectic selection of vintage goods, ranging from designer sunglasses to a giant stuffed polar bear. Beginning last weekend, Pass The Baton invited Audrey Fondecave Tsujimura to put on a very special exhibition in the store. Entitled "Mouchoirs" (handkerchiefs), the project also features Fondecave painting instore on three dates.

Audrey collected a selection of vintage handkerchiefs between May and August 2011 in France from vide-greniers, which are basically countryside flea markets. Says Fondecave, “These hankies are old, some of them are stained and imperfect this is the mark of their history. I find their imperfections fascinating.”

The show also depicts a preoccupation with the magical, the opening day saw Fondecave’s daughter decked in a magician’s hat and performing card tricks for the audience. “The magician’s handkerchief is the perfect demonstration of this magic, and that is the theme that I have chosen to link these antique hankies to you and I. Using silk screen I have printed these hankies with four types of drawing and with a base of seven colours. Each piece is unique.”

On March 17 and 19, Audrey will be live painting at Pass The Baton from 1pm to 4pm, continuing with her work in progress, "House of Cards". The handkerchiefs will be for sale and on display at Pass The Baton until Saturday March 25.