Megumi Shauna Arai is an artist based in New York City. Her practice is inspired by abstraction, craft, and the experience of betweenness with a particular interest in literal and metaphorical borders and the notion of belonging.
She is represented by gallery Object & Thing, a space created by Abby Bangser as an exhibition in New York City that reimagined the art and design fair concept. It has since evolved into an itinerant exhibition program collaboratively organizing site-specific exhibitions within iconic 20th century artists’ and architects’ homes. Megumi is one of a group of artists “whose practices go beyond the traditional hierarchy between art and design” featured there.
Megumi recently completed a socially engaged project with elders in the East Village in partnership with the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council in 2023. Other recent exhibitions include A Summer Arrangement: Object & Thing at LongHouse (2023), The Third Kind, Curated by Lola Kramer & Loup Sarion, Management Gallery (2023), Object & Thing at Madoo: Megumi Shauna Arai and Frances Palmer (2022), At The Noyes House: Blum & Poe, Mendes Wood DM and Object & Thing (2020), Lore: Reimagined, Wing Luke Museum (2018) and Midst, Jacob Lawrence Gallery (2018). She has been awarded residencies in Japan, Ireland, Italy, Washington, Maine, and California, including Headlands Center for the Arts (2023).
She is also a featured artist on our Tangier trip this August at The Mothership! We caught up with Megumi to learn more about her practice, where inspiration comes from and that “betweenness…”
What’s the first thought or idea that comes into your head to inspire an object made with natural dyes?
Natural dyes are a tool I use to create a palette. I was reading an interview with the late Etel Adnan recently where she says, “Color is an affirmation of presence so strong that it’s almost alive, almost human. There’s a power in color.” I couldn’t agree more. This is probably one of the reasons why I was drawn to natural dyes in the first place – because the color that comes forth through this process holds significance, it is imbued with something powerful that I believe translates in the finished piece.
Talk about how “betweenness,” borders and the notion of belonging enter into your work.
Belonging relates to home and I think most of us are all in search of home whether that be the physical place we live, an emotional or intellectual community or an inward spiritual path. My work whether it be made in the studio and hung on a wall or actively in a socially-engaged format all have this foundational inquiry.
What’s your connection to Tangier and the work being done at The Mothership?
I greatly admire Yto. The multidisciplinary approach to her work and her commitment to making spaces for community is an inspiration and a wonderful example for other artists. The Mothership is a home, a residency, a garden, a research center and much more. It is for lovers of textile and natural dye, the environment and cultural exchange, a place that champions communal making and learning. These are things I spend time with and are inspired by. As for Cara, leading the workshop, she is a friend and colleague in New York City. An expert I often go to if I have a question regarding a natural dye process and a teacher who I think engages community beautifully.
What’s your favorite color and why?
Rather than one color it is the relationship between colors that entices me and there is an endless amount to consider. So exciting!
Come meet Megumi, Cara and Yto for this once in a lifetime trip to Tangier here!
I love Megumi’s work! I makes me think of the times I’ve had dyed cloth on the floor and loved how it looked then put it away thinking I’d better make it into “something” – her spontaneity (albeit very intuitively based) is inspiring! Thanks for sharing this with us!
Cathryn Kasper
Corvallis, OR