Calligraphic Practice by Tacit Knowledge between Imagination and Realization in Garment-Making

Abstract

Making is a realization of the maker’s imagination. From imagination to realization there can be gaps in thought and the reality. Knowledge, both explicit and tacit, is necessary for carrying out the making. This article originated from autoethnographic writing about my failed calligraphic practice carried out on a garment by imitating a calligrapher’s movement. Failure resulted from misjudging my skill, i.e., from unawareness of my lack of tacit knowledge. Because tacit knowledge can be involved at the imagination stage of the garment-making process, a maker has no precise notion of how much he or she knows before performing the required actions. This article attempts to explain a maker’s personal journey of producing a garment, and to find the characteristics of tacit knowledge as imagination for garment-making. Research methods include autoethnography, filming, and the theory of tacit knowledge.