Bound between covers draped in a contemporary textile, Structure and Surface lushly and in great detail illustrates more than 60 exotic and beautiful fabric creations that have emerged from Japan in the past few years. Texts describe materials used--banana fiber, newspaper, copper, stainless steel, and feathers, combined with silk, cotton, wool, linen, and polyester--and an array of ingenious techniques--pounding, scrubbing, scraping, and treatment with chemicals and acids--which together create radically new textures and finishes. For centuries Japan has been associated with a rich textile tradition and was a leading center of cotton and silk production, but as this book demostrates, in recent years it has emerged as a newly influential and vital force in the industry. Included are biographies of the 30 artists, designers, and manufacturers represented, as well as a useful glossary.