Disbelieving customs officials gathered round him as he produced various letters and documentation, but to no avail. Finally, Shrestha showed them the vest he was wearing as proof that a rich durable fabric can be woven of paper thread. Shifu must be seen and, most importantly, touched to be believed. Shrestha uses mostly natural dyes, including turmeric, persimmon juice and various vegetables, and the odd chemical dye, on his shifu. Swaths of shifu cascade about the gallery, some of it smooth and soft, other sections wrinkled with an almost elastic quality.
Earth tones abound.
Shrestha recounts a Japanese wartime legend of secret missives written on paper, spun into thread and woven into fabric. While one can imagine a military message hidden imperceptibly in a kimono, it is easier to conjecture a love letter residing deep in the luxurious and charismatic shifu. I relate to paper microscopically, and I think Deepak does too. We share a very deep sensitivity for the material. The cumulative effect of these rough pieces is both simple and strong.