Based in Chicago, IL, contemporary artist Michael Thompson creates unique kites, collages and mixed media works assembled from material fragments of past and present collected in his travels. His ongoing series of large-scale kites bridge the gap between flat art and sculpture, each crafted of split bamboo frames covered with stretched muslin and a collage of vintage ephemera – including kimonos, obis, paintings, scrolls, drawings, tickets, signs, book pages, or anything with a story to tell.
In this kite entitled "Peach Bloom," Thompson seams together fragments of found obi silks and woven brocades to create a dreamy landscape of flowers and clouds. Long panels of silk and cotton stretch across the kite with geometric form, while five-petal cherry blossoms drift across the surface. The left side is anchored by a panel of silk woven with a pattern of crashing waves, dyed to a peachy-pink with contrasting white floral medallions achieved by dye-resist.
Like the ever-desirable peach bloom glaze of Chinese porcelain ware, the kite plays within a palette of pink, white, and orange, with the occasional undercurrent of pale green. Delicately printed silks of chrysanthemums and other flowers soften the kite's sharper angles with gentle shading and fine linework. Feminine yet bold, vibrant yet soft, the kite is an exuberant celebration of springtime and the simple perfection of a drifting cloud.
"Peach Bloom," 2023
Michael Thompson
Split bamboo, canvas, silk, pigments.
