Mei and Totoro asleep in Aubusson tapestry

Take part in the great woven adventure uniting the prestigious Studio Ghibli and the Cité internationale de la tapisserie by supporting the weaving of the most monumental tapestry from the imagination of Hayao Miyazaki! This artwork of over 31m², woven entirely handly by craftsmen, will represent Mei and Totoro asleep, an emblematic scene from the movie My Neighbor Totoro. The Cité internationale de la tapisserie in Aubusson, a bearer of six centuries of exceptional know-how recognized by UNESCO as Intangible cultural heritage of humanity, has undertaken the ambitious project of creating a series of tapestries dedicated to the works of the great Japanese film-maker Hayao Miyazaki. The project, L'imaginaire de Hayao Miyazaki en tapisserie d'Aubusson, was launched as part of a partnership with Studio Ghibli in Tokyo. Four monumental artworks have already been completed to date. Those tapestries contribute to the success of this woven adventure, which stands as one of the most visible projects in cultural and artistic cooperation between Japan and France. The first of these tapestries is inspired by the movie Princess Mononoke (23 m²). Revealed on March 22, 2022, it has already traveled across France to meet its public in prestigious places such as the musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac and the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux. In 2025, it will be returning to its roots by traveling to Hayao Miyazaki's homeland for the Osaka 2025 World Exhibition ! Three images from the films Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle have been woven and will be unveiled in 2023. They will be complemented by two tapestries inspired by Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and My Neighbor Totoro. Mei and Totoro asleep : a tapestry of a cult scene from the universe of Hayao Miyazaki With the support of Studio Ghibli, the Cité internationale de la tapisserie is launching the weaving of a new tapestry based on the cult film My Neighbor Totoro, entitled Mei and Totoro asleep, which will undoubtedly stand out in France and beyond as the mythical work of the collection. The exceptional dimensions of this artwork and the sense of generosity it embodies make it a true ode to Hayao Miyazaki’s universe. It is also the largest tapestry ever produced by the Cité internationale de la tapisserie ! Aubusson tapestry is born from the meeting between an artistic project driven by a talented creator and a set of skills held by different professions of excellence: artist-cartoon maker, spinning mill, dyer and weaver. Creating tapestry is not simply about enlarging a model and faithfully transcribing it into weaving, down to the smallest detail. It relies on the potential of an artistic project to develop its full force in a singular material - thread - and on the ability of crafts of excellence to jointly interpret this artistic project, giving it full expression in its textile transcription. La Cité internationale de la tapisserie: more than just a museum ! The Cité internationale de la tapisserie is a singular institution in France's creative arts and crafts landscape: it is at once a French museum, a formation center for exceptional know-how, a production site for contemporary works and a tool for promoting an economic sector based on a historical heritage. Its main ambition is to inscribe in our time a world-renowned know-how and tradition inherited over six centuries, and to promote the professions of excellence that support it. These are concentrated in the very rural area of South Creuse, in the Limousin region, and represent over 200 jobs. The dynamism of this professional community is such that it attracts many young people. With the creation of around forty works since 2010, contemporary creation is at the heart of the Cité de la Tapisserie's project. Combining this goal with that of reviving the tradition of great narrative tapestries, and following the success of Aubusson weaves Tolkien, the Cité embarked on this adventure with Studio Ghibli. The magnificent creations and the enthusiasm they have aroused demonstrate the tapestry medium's ability to take hold of a contemporary universe and dazzle us. Aubusson tapestry glossary