Until cotton became generally available in the Japanese countryside, most rural working clothing was made of bast fibres, such as nettle, hemp, and wisteria. Cotton rags - warmer and softer - were treasured by poor peasants, and they provided the raw material for both 'boro' and 'sakiori' fabrics.

This exhibition, a development of our recent 'boro' show, includes fine and beautiful examples of Japanese country textiles that date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They demonstrate that simple and frugal aesthetics can be just as satisfying as the pleasures of luxury and excess.

The Douglas Hyde Gallery gratefully acknowledges the help of Stephen Szczepanek and Sri, Brooklyn, New York, for their help in the organization of this exhibition.

A new publication, including a text by Stephen Szczepanek, accompanies this exhibition.