An Expanse in the Midst of the Waters

“An Expanse in the Midst of the Waters”, Yael Harnik’s artist book, assembles works, reflections, and experiences from her six years of living and working in Tokyo, Japan. Through the book, Harnik wishes to offer a glimpse into Japanese culture from a western perspective, as well as into her own creative processes.
As an artist working in the medium of textile, the practice of traditional techniques was for her a way of opening a window into the Japanese culture. In Tokyo, she specialized in stencil paste-resist dyeing (kata-zome) and in indigo - two traditional Japanese dyeing techniques that are founded on natural materials. The book's starting point was her practical PhD that she completed in 2022 at Tama Art University in Tokyo. This research explores practices of repetition and disruption, and the perception of time through material. In it, Harnik examined the intercultural aspect through a study of the color blue: the Japanese Indigo and Tekhelet in Jewish culture.
“An Expanse in the Midst of the Waters”, produced in collaboration with the book designer Roni Shvarts, includes photos of Harnik's artworks, documentation of her creative process, and texts by Dr. Etty Glass-Gissis, by Dr. Katya Oicherman, and by the artist herself.