National Crafts Museum: Imaginal Crafts
While paintings and sculptures can be enjoyed more by learning about the motifs and colors used, the background of their production, and the careers of the artists, it is sometimes said that it is difficult to understand the highlights of craft works and how to appreciate them. To be sure, since crafts involve a deep understanding of materials and associated techniques, people may tend to focus on “how this work was created” rather than on “what is being expressed.” However, many craftspeople also focus on themes such as their own mental images and their relationships with society.
This exhibition features works by six artists who present their productions as contemporary expressions. Embroiderer OKI Junko creates works with stitches on cloth as a process of inscribing traces of life, glass artist SASAKI Rui preserves memories of the land and nature in her works, and metalwork artist TAKAHASHI Kengo focuses on the theme of “life and death” and “rebirth” in the present age. NAKAGAWA Mamoru, a metalwork artist and living national treasure, creates works in the realm of traditional crafts, transforming the landscapes of various countries into abstract patterns. Lacquer artist NAKATA Mayu makes works to share momentary scenes that captivate her heart. Ceramic artist MATSUNAGA Keita produces works using motifs that overlay his indelible images and geological formations that retain time.
We hope that this exhibition will be an opportunity to appreciate not only the techniques of the six artists, but also the expression of their minds that they have created as artists living today.