News

2022/01/31
2022 Spring Special Exhibition: “The present visage of the Mingei movement in western Japan”

2022 Spring Special Exhibition,
“The present visage of the Mingei movement in western Japan”
March 5 (Sat)-July 18 (Mon)

The Japan Folk Crafts Museum, Osaka was established in 1972 as a flagship Mingei museum in western Japan. To commemorate the museum’s 50th anniversary, this spring 2022 exhibition shows the works of almost one hundred craftspeople active in western Japan, including Okinawa.

The Mingei Movement established by Soetsu Yanagi expanded from introducing the beauty he found in everyday utensils to restoring handiworks and establishing Mingei museums. Since its beginning the Mingei Movement has been joined by many craftspeople, producing a variety of excellent works.

Nowadays the idea of Mingei is widely familiar, with craftspeople developing their own individual interpretations. What is the result of the aggregated ideas and experiences of such craftspeople?

This exhibition shows the various approaches through more than 200 works of craftspeople operating under the ‘Mingei’ umbrella. Please enjoy this virtual trip through their works in western Japan.

pitcher, black glaze, pasted decoration by Noriyuki Yamamoto. lidded jar, bird design by Eiji Kodani. miniature shrine (zushi), fuki-urushi lacquerware by Gen Hiramatsu. pitcher, namako glaze by Shussai-gama kiln.
Kurashiki knotting by Kurashiki Honzome Handwoven Institute. Kurashiki knotting by Kurashiki Honzome Handwoven Institute. dining chair, Japanese zelkova by Tohru Sasakura.

PAGE TOP