Jun Tomita, born in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, in 1951, is a highly regarded contemporary Japanese weaver and a noted practitioner of the traditional kasuri method of ikat weaving.

After studying and working in Australia and England, Tomita returned to Japan and, in 1982, established his home and studio in Koshihata, a mountainous rural area west of Kyoto. The surrounding forests and constantly changing landscape became an important source of inspiration for his work, resulting in textiles with a distinctive, atmospheric and almost painterly quality.

Tomita dyes and weaves his own threads, creating textiles in which the irregularities and variations of the ikat process form an integral part of the design. His work includes traditional Japanese obi textiles as well as larger woven pieces intended for display on the wall or floor. Each work is individually made and possesses its own subtle variations and character.

Tomita has exhibited internationally and has taught at both the West Surrey College of Art and Design in England and the Kyoto College of Art. His work is recognised for its quiet, layered compositions and strong connection with the natural world.

Of particular interest is the history of this piece. It was acquired by the distinguished British weaver Mary Farmer, who selected it for inclusion in the 1982 Crafts Council exhibition The Maker’s Eye, held in London.

Mary Farmer was a significant figure in the British contemporary craft movement and served as one of the selectors for this influential exhibition. Her selection of this work by Jun Tomita provides an interesting connection between Tomita’s developing reputation in Japan and the contemporary British craft scene of the early 1980s.

The piece therefore carries not only the interest of Tomita’s distinctive kasuri weaving, but also a notable exhibition and collecting history associated with Mary Farmer and the Crafts Council.