Rachel Head

Pillow Book Series & Kimonos 1997-1998

Eros Show - February/March 2000

Included in the eros show are Rachel's pillow book pages, large multicoloured lino prints and unique kimonos.

Pillow Book Pages

Pillow Book Pages #8 to #12 - Rachel Head 1998

Traditional pillow books were initially used by concubines in geisha houses throughout Japan. They were reference books for unique techniques of sexual pleasure. The images within the pillow books all had enlarged genitalia, thus drawing attention to the specific part of the body that the technique applied.

Rachel has made her pillow books aesthetically pleasing images that concentrate on the beauty of colour and line leading the focus away from what could be classified as taboo.

Pillow Book Page #12 - Rachel Head 1998 View Print

Each print was designed as a page within a book. There are twelve images in the series, one for each month. The lino cut prints have had coloured pigments (red, orange and blue) and gold powder added to the surface while the black ink was still wet. This technique has created a lush, rich surface quality. Each print is aproximately 14cm x 22cm and is expertly mounted and framed (final size is 35.5cm x 45cm) and is priced at $450.00 Australian - plus shipping & handling costs. The prints in the Eros show are all signed Artist Proofs.

The following images are each of the 12 Pillow Book Pages - shown without the mounting and frame.

Pillow Book Page #1 - Rachel Head 1998
Artist Proof
Lino Print with multicoloured and gold surface pigments
35.5cm x 45cm Framed
AUS $450.00 Framed
plus shipping & handling costs

Large multicoloured lino prints 1998

The larger pieces were also inspired by pillow books and are multiple lino prints. Within these particular images, there is a suggestion that more is happening beyond the boundary of the image. By using a layering of lino prints, there is a veiled effect which leads the eye to search for the story beneath. Another reason for this 'veiling' is a suggestion that the viewer is a voyeur. Many concubines were trained for the unique art of love making by watching from behind screens.

Pillow Book Series: #29, #28 & #27 - Multilino cut prints - Rachel Head 1998
Artist Proofs - Lino Prints with multicoloured and gold surface pigments
40.5cm x 83cm Framed
AUS $450.00 Each Framed or AUS $1200 for set of 3
plus shipping & handling costs

Kimono pieces 1997-1998

The large kimono pieces were based on Japanese Manga (cartoons). The focus of these works were based on pornographic Manga in the form of a kimono. The kimono to me, being a foreigner, truly represents a part of Japanese culture.

Using lino prints and wood cuts, I merged traditional with present day images. Each block was individually printed and then hand sewn into a full size kimono. The hand made paper for the kimonos flows like material and known as 'Gumpi'. Being soft and transparent, the images could be projected onto the ground by the sun filtering through.

On one particular kimono I changed the quality of the paper by painting it with a gum and 'scrunching' it which gave it a flexibility much like fabric. This is similar to a style of clothing made by Japanese people in an earlier period.

All of the kimonos were created in Kyoto, Japan using local pigments.

All of the kimono pieces are 'one off'.