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ExhibitionsKYOTO, Re-creation of Reminiscence
―― Lacquerware in Modern Japan

KYOTO, Re-creation of Reminiscence
   ―― Lacquerware in Modern Japan


迎田秋悦《杉藤蒔絵硯箱》1920年
KODA Shuetsu, Tiered Inkstone Box, Cedar
   and Wisteria Design in Maki- e
, 1920
  Since the olden days, lacquer art, in which the tap of lacquer trees is applied as daub or glue, has been used for a wide variety of daily utensils in Japan, including furnishings, stationery, accessories and tableware, and has established rich culture of lacquer, represented by the maki-e technique, unparalleled anywhere in the world. Drastic change in social structure occurred in Japan during the modern period, together with the introduction of a wide variety of aspects of western civilization which have continued to pour into Japan. In this influx of western culture were included the new concepts of "art" and "crafts." The division of the two concepts greatly affected the environment surrounding lacquer art, as it did other fields of craft as well. While a great deal of influence came from Tokyo, which played a leading role in introducing a new system for art and art education during the Meiji period, the lacquer art world of Kyoto, which had always been intertwined with various traditional and cultural phases ranging from local industry to the refined world of leisure and inherited since the pre-modern period, gave birth to a rich, cultural diversity that cannot be explained within the conventional framework of craft history alone.
  This exhibition features the lacquer art of Kyoto in the modern period which until now has garnered little attention. Although there has been a substantial outflow overseas of many significant Japanese modern craft pieces in recent years, some of the most excellent works of prominent craftsmen such as Tomita Koshichi and Koda Shuetsu are returning home from museums abroad on this occasion. This, the first large-scale exhibition of modern lacquer art in Kyoto, introduces superb works by generally unknown lacquer artists from the late Edo, through Meiji and Taisho, to early Showa periods, and will provide us with a unique opportunity to reconsider the modernization of "crafts" through lacquer art.

Exhibition dates
July 19 (Sat.) - August 24 (Sun.), 2014
Closed on Mondays
Exception: Open on July 21 (Mon./holiday), closed on July 22 (Tue.)

Hours
9:30AM–5:00PM (admission until 4:30PM)

Organizer
The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
The Kyoto Shimbun

Admission
  Day of admission Advance Group (20 or more)
Adult 900 700 600
University students 500 350 250
High school students
and younger
Free

*Collection gallery is available with this ticket.
* Visitors with disability and one person accompanying them are
 admitted free of charge.(Please present certificate at the admission.)
*Advance tickets:
 Lawson     (L-code:54319)
 Seven-Eleven (7-code:030-989)
 Ticket Pia    (P-code: 766-221)
 Other major ticket vendors and convenience stores
 *Advance tickets are available for a limited period only. (5/19-7/18)


  Related events
  Lecture: "Lacquerware in Modern Japan"    
NAKAO Yui
   (Associate Curator, The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto)
   Date & Time: August 16 (Sat.), 2014 2:00-3:30PM
   (numbered tickets distributed 11:00AM before the lecture hall)
   Place: 1F Lecture hall
   Fee: Free Admission, maximum capacity 100
   in Japanese only

  Lecture: "Modern Industrial Crafts in Kyoto,
         KAMISAKA Sekka and ASAI Chu"
   
SATO Keiji (Professor, Kyoto Seika University)
   Date & Time: August 23 (Sat.), 2014 2:00-3:30PM
   (numbered tickets distributed 11:00AM before the lecture hall)
   Place: 1F Lecture hall
   Fee: Free Admission, maximum capacity 100
   in Japanese only

  Gallery Talk (40 mins)
Starts at 11:00AM, as scheduled listed below.
July 26 (Sat.), 27 (Sun.)
August 2 (Sat.), 3 (Sun.), 8 (Fri.), 9 (Sat.), 10 (Sun.), 17 (Sun.), 24 (Sun.)

Talker: members of the Kyoto Urushi Junior Association
     curator of the museum
Reception: 1F information desk
Maximum capacity: 20 seats (numbered tickets distributed 10:00AM)
Fee: Free of charge, exhibition ticket required
Organizer: The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
Cooperation: The Kyoto Shikki Kogei Cooperative Association
          The Kyoto Urushi Junior Association


  Workshops by the Kyoto Urushi Junior Association

  Urushi Painting + Maki-e Experiential Learning (approx. 30-60 min)
You decorate lacquered chopsticks or round plate with a variety of
colored lacquers. You can also experience simple Maki-e technique
with gold and silver pulverizing and gold leaf.

Date & Time: July 26 (Sat.) 1:00PM-4:00PM (acceptance at any time)
        August 3 (Sun.) 1:00PM-4:00PM (acceptance at any time)
Maximum capacity: 60 seats / each day (reservation first policy)
Fee for participation: 3,000 Yen
   

  Fuki-Urushi, Wipe Lacquering on Chopsticks (approx. 30-60 min)
"Wipe lacquering" is a technique of lacuqering, repeatedly wiping
lacquer applied on wood. You choose your favorite color and length
of chopsticks, and make your own.

Date & Time: July 27 (Sun.) 1:00PM-4:00PM (acceptance at any time)
       August 24 (Sun.) 1:00PM-4:00PM (acceptance at any time)
Maximum capacity: 60 seats / each day (reservation first policy)
Fee for participation: 2,000 Yen
   

  Kintsugi, Golden Joinery (Repairment)
Kintsugi is one of Japan's original technique that repairs broken ceramics
by applying gold dust on a crack. You bring a broken ceramics, such as
cup or bowl, and revive its beauty by Kintsugi. Due to time constraints,
you will experience an easier process of Kintsugi with fine silver dust in
this workshop.

Date & Time: August 10 (Sun.) 1:00PM-4:00PM (acceptance at any time)
         August 17 (Sun.) 1:00PM-4:00PM (acceptance at any time)
Maximum capacity: 20 seats / each day (reservation required)
Fee for participation: 6,000 Yen
What to bring: broken ceramics (crack within 2 centimeters),
          a box for take home
   

   Application
Apply and Inquiry: the Kyoto Urushi Junior Association (SATO Takahiko)
E-mail: info@urusi.co.jp

Place: The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto 1F Lecture room
Organizer: The Kyoto Urushi Junior Association
Cooperation: The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
*English, Spanish and French available.
*You may take home your work.
 However, a week will take lacquer to be completely dried.
*We will support your safe to avoid skin reaction to lacquer.
*The exhibition admission is not included to the workshop fee.


  Kyoto Japanese Confectionery Club    
"Hommage to Urushi―Kyogashi Coloring the Urushi World"
   Organizer: Kyoto Japanese Confectionery Club
   Cooperation: The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
   Date: July 20 (Sat.) ①10:00AM~ ②1:30PM~
          21 (Sun.) ①10:00AM~ ②1:30PM~
Maximum capacity: 40 (reservation first policy)
Fee for participation: 4,000 Yen

   Contact
   Kyoto Wagashi no Kai (Kyoto Japanese Confectionery Club)
   Email: webmaster@kyo-kaze.jp
   Fax: 075-841-8089


Publicity materials
flyer PDF(5MB)






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