Bathing Yu

The daily practice of washing oneself, which seems to be rather quickly and efficiently practised in Western countries, is something like a ritual in Japan. Soaking in hot water is not only considered to be healthy for the body, but also cleanses the mind. The image of sitting in a hot tub with a view of the mountains immersed in nature is being romanticised in Japanese culture. 

After visiting different hot springs and baths around Japan Veronika made various silk paintings in the size of the traditional Japanese bathing cloth called tenugui. She then created her own ritual of bathing these silk paintings at places with water while exploring the landscapes of Itoshima. The paint, which was not fixed on the silk, will fade by time. The photos, which document this ritual were exhibited in the different bathrooms of Studio Kura, showing also the differences between traditional Japanese and western bathrooms.

Kindly supported by the Federal Ministry Republic of Austria for Arts and Culture.

Installation View, Bathing Yu, Studio Kura, Itoshima