RUG is one of the craft work which Afghanistan take pride in and the things in daily life. The way of use is subdivided, for example, into for meal or for prey. Sometimes, a mother and daughter weave a rug before the daughter get marry. That is, the rug is “spiritual” and “real” thing for people in Afghanistan. (While in Japan, it is regarded as a luxurious decoration, though).

“4U RUG” is a collaboration project of Japanese artists and Afghan craftsmen in making the rugs. Peaceful rugs with people’s wish for Afghan’s restoration are delivered from faraway Afghanistan. “4U” means “Unite”, “Unique”, “Unison” and “Universe”.

There were 14 participating artists, including Tadanobu Asano, Naohiro Ukawa, Yutanpo Shirane, Keiichi Tanaami, Katsuki Tanaka, Namaiki and others. Each design was sent to craftsmen in Afghanistan and they wove the rug carefully, taking a long time. The rug can only be woven 2 – 3 cm a day so some complicatedly designed rug took a half year with two craftsmen to complete it.

When you look at the rugs closer, you would understand the level of detail. One of the most difficult thing was to tell the exact pattern or colour which designers intended, because there are differences of culture or sense. When we say “red”, for example, it can be a red of sunset or a red of blood.

Keiichi Tanaami

Near the entrance, there is a work by Keiichi Tanaami. The design is using his iconic motif of a goldfish. It keeps the taste of Tanaami but some colour and texture is added by Afghan craftsman and he says “it becomes more interesting than my original design”.