I customised a pair of white boots, which were inspired by Japanese traditional woodblock printing. My artist’s work memorialised everyday life in the late Edo period, imbuing the Japanese landscape with a lyricism that drew upon the fleeting nature of sensual pleasure. Hiroshige’s prints memorialised everyday life in the late Edo period, in which travel and entertainment became more widely available to the middle-class. In addition, he presented a vision of the country in which the changing of the seasons, and associated festivities, were central. This vision of Japan, heightened by Hiroshige’s lush colours and unconventional approach to composition, had widespread appeal within Japan and abroad.

When I was thinking about how I could customise my shoes, I came up with many ideas. However, if I combined all of my ideas, the shoes might seem messy and too busy. Therefore, I narrowed down the design. Hiroshige’s work, alongside that of Katsushika Hokusai, popularised Japanese art and aesthetics in Europe. Hiroshige’s bright colours and attention to the passing of time substantially impacted Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters. In contrast, his bold lines representing trees and flowers had a strong influence on Art Nouveau design. To show the history, I used bright colours to paint the flowers, and I also painted waves inspired by “Naruto Whirlpool, Awa Province”.

However, I felt If I finished with the shoes that were only painted, It’s not stand out and was boring. Thus I made waraji with polypropylene rope. Waraji is sandals woven from straw. The most traditional material is rice straw. People can also wear waraji with tabi, the traditional Japanese split-toe socks. Ropes made from the same material wrap around the ankles and bind the sole securely to the foot. During the Edo Period, samurai and commoners alike wore these practical shoes. Using waraji to customise my shoes express the meaning behind the era, and I think people can see which kind of artist inspired me at a glance.