Pixel Weave Monalisa Whāriki by Hana Mitsui

Pixel Weave Monalisa Whāriki by Hana Mitsui is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Parahi in Hoahoa Kākahu Raranga, Papanga, Tāhūhū, Tauira me te Kākahu Competition Category.

ParahiKākahu Raranga· 2025

Pixel Weave Monalisa Whāriki

by Hana Mitsui

Client: Hana Material Design Laboratory inc.

A' Design Award Parahi Winner in Kākahu Raranga Category

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Colors

The Design

About Pixel Weave Monalisa Whāriki

Ka whakamāoritia anōtia e Hana Mitsui te raranga tatami Hapanihi tawhito mā tētahi Mona Lisa pīkaratia, he mea hanga ki te kākaho Igusa. I te mahi tahi me ngā tohunga raranga tatami, ka torotoro ia i te āhua ka taea ai e tēnei rauemi tawhito te tūhono ki te reo tirohanga o ēnei rā. Mā te kite i te ōritetanga ataata i waenga i te raranga o te tatami me ngā tukutuku pīkara matihiko, i whakawhanake a Mitsui i tētahi tikanga hei whakapuaki i ngā tōnga ngāwari mā ngā āhua pāpātanga, pīkara-rite. Ko te hua ka whakaaturia ai tētahi kōrerorero mārie i waenga i te tikanga me te tirohanga ōnāianei. Ka whakaata tana mahi i te hiahia haere tonu ki te whakamāori i ngā taonga tuku iho ki ngā whakakitenga ataata hou.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Parahi

Ko Pixel Weave Monalisa Whāriki te toa o te A' Design Award Parahi, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa kōeke e tohua ana mā te auaha, te mahi mōhio me te whakaaro hōhonu. Ko ngā toa Parahi he mahi pukenga e rite ana, he auaha mīharo, e whakatūturu ana i te wheako nui, te whakaaro me te mōhio-ā-ringa o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Pixel Weave Monalisa Whāriki he taonga whakanuia, whakamīharotia, aroha nui, he ngaio, he auaha hoki. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Parahi e whakauru ana i ngā tikanga pai rawa i te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau, ā, he tino mīharo ki ngā taipitopito. Ka whakatutuki a Pixel Weave Monalisa Whāriki i ngā hiahia, ka pā ki ngā hiahia, ka whakaoho i ngā kare-ā-roto, ā, ka kume i te pākiki.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Transforming traditional Japanese tatami weaving, I set out to explore new possibilities for Igusa grass.
I noticed a compelling visual similarity between the geometric patterns of tatami and the pixel grid of digital imagery. Inspired by this connection, I developed a weaving technique using Igusa grass that captures painterly impressions through pixel-like expressions.
By carefully blending the natural hues of Igusa, the image of the world-renowned Mona Lisa emerges—subtle, tactile, and reimagined through a uniquely Japanese material language.
The strength of this design lies in its ability to present tatami an everyday, familiar presence in Japanese life from a fresh perspective, refracted through the iconic gaze of the Mona Lisa.
It reveals the untapped potential within our daily surroundings, reminding us that even the most ordinary materials can be transformed into something artistic and profound.
Dimensions & Packaging: Dimensions: 1,760 mm (W) × 880 mm (H) × 5 mm (D)
Tags: Weave, Textile, Pixel, Craft, Rug, Art, Mona Lisa, Igusa grass, Tatami
Production Technology: This piece was produced using the same specialized machines used to weave traditional Japanese Tatami and Goza mats. Japan has unique looms specifically designed for Igusa, and these were essential in bringing this design to life. As the Igusa industry is a small, closed circle, collaborations with designers are rare, making this a new creative challenge for the artisans involved.
After choosing the Mona Lisa as the motif, I created a pixelated version and worked closely with the craftspeople to translate it into a weave structure. We exchanged data many times to adjust the pattern, then programmed the loom for production. Since Igusa is resistant to dye, the finished piece was coated to fix the colors. Through many stages, this design was carefully crafted into a new expression of Igusa.
Design Challenge: This project marked my first experience working with Igusa weaving.
Since Igusa is typically used for everyday household items, creating a large-scale jacquard weave for an artwork like this is quite rare.
Collaborating closely with skilled artisans, I carefully considered the weave structure and color combinations, aiming to achieve maximum expression within the technical limitations of the material.

At the same time, I also focused on ensuring the functionality of the piece as a rug, designing the weave with strength and durability in mind.
This design is the result of merging my background in textile design with newly acquired knowledge of Igusa—bringing together both experience and experimentation in a truly integrated way.
Research: Colorfully dyed Igusa mats woven with the Kakegawa-ori technique represent a rare and refined tradition, even within Japan. In recent years, however, many younger generations are unaware of the existence of such vibrant tatami, and the craft itself is at risk of fading into obscurity.

Having grown up in a home without tatami, I had little familiarity with it. It wasn’t until a work trip to Fukuoka that I encountered Kakegawa-ori in daily use. I was deeply moved by the beauty of this weaving method seamlessly integrated into everyday life, and at the same time, I felt a strong sense of loss and urgency in realizing how this cultural heritage is gradually disappearing.

This experience inspired me to launch the project, with the aim of reintroducing the value and beauty of this technique to a wider audience. I selected the Mona Lisa as the central motif because it is an iconic image recognized by virtually everyone, even those with no particular interest in art. It naturally captures attention, and its pixelated form retains a clear visual identity—making it especially well-suited to this method of expression.

The work succeeded in drawing attention at the exhibition, encouraging many viewers to engage with this traditional craft from a fresh perspective.
Inspiration: This work was born out of a deep sense of urgency around the rapid decline of Japan’s Igusa culture.
Traditionally used in tatami mats suited to Japan’s humid climate, Igusa grass has seen a dramatic decrease in demand due to modern lifestyle changes, with farms now reduced to just one-twentieth of their peak.

To keep this heritage material alive for future generations, I sought to reframe Igusa in a contemporary context bridging traditional craftsmanship with digital aesthetics to explore new, sustainable possibilities for this time-honored material.
Project Duration: The project began in Fukuoka, Japan in September 2024 and was completed in December 2024.
It was also showcased at a major design event, DESIGNTIDE TOKYO, held in Tokyo in December 2024.
Operation Flow: This piece is an art rug made using traditional Japanese tatami techniques. Though it may look like a digital image, it is handwoven entirely from natural Igusa grass. The portrait of the Mona Lisa appears through pixel-like colored squares—abstract up close, but clear from a distance. It requires no special operation and can be used freely as a floor mat or wall piece. The natural texture and scent blend tradition with contemporary design.
Patents: [Copyrights : Hana Mitsui,2025]
Image Credits: [ Image#1,2,3,4 and 5 : Photographer:Naoaki Yokota]