Masterpiece Collection 2018 Exhibition Notice

A display of both traditional and contemporary true lacquerware products and a great opportunity to see a demonstration of traditional makie techniques during the show.

Recognised as “the world’s leading cross-collection fair”, The Masterpiece Collection 2018 will be held in Vienna at the Grand Hotel Wein from the 21st September.  Details below.

Representing some of the very best examples of true lacquerware from Japan will be the Shioyasu Urushi Kobo, a family run business established in 1851 and now lead by Shin’ichi Shioyasu, the Managing Director.

We produce a great variety of tableware and other decorative items using true lacquer, known in Japan as urushi.

Our workshop and showroom are in Wajima, which is situated on the Japan Sea coast of the Noto Peninsula, almost due north of Tokyo.

The city is well-known as a centre for the production of Wajima lacquerware, which is renowned for its quality, decorative techniques and durability.

This year we are very proud to be able to take part in the Masterpiece Collection 2018 in Vienna.

We will be exhibiting a wide range of items—some used in a Japanese tea ceremony while others are contemporary pieces of tableware.

There will also be a demonstration of the makie technique on our stand.  Simply speaking this involves the use of gold and silver chips and powders, which are sprinkled onto true lacquer before it hardens.

Demonstrating some of the individual makie techniques will be Junnosuke Kawayachi, who was born in Wajima in 1981.  He is the fifth generation of a very long line of makie artist/craftsmen in his family.

Junnosuke became an apprentice under a Wajima makie master when he was 18 years old and then struck out on his own at the age of 25.  He therefore represents the future of makie work in Wajima.

The Masterpiece Collection 2018 will be a great opportunity to see authentic pieces of Wajima lacquerware and to meet some of the craft’s experts.

We have some invitations to the exhibition for 22nd and 23rd September, so if you would like one, please let me know by 15th September.

We are very much looking forward to meeting you at Masterpiece Collection 2018.  Our stand will be located to the left of the exhibition venue.

Shin’ichi Shioyasu

Director, Shioyasu Urushi Ware

Masterpiece Collection 22nd and 23rd September 2018

Grand Hotel Wien

Kärntner Ring 9

A-1010 Wein

Reception—by invitation only from 19:00 21st September.

22nd & 23rd September 10:30 - 19:00

Masterpiece Collection (German)

http://masterpiece-collection.com/ausstellung/

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Exhibition Notice—Wako, Ginza, Tokyo

Collaboration—Exhibition Notice

This exhibition of collaborative work is being held at Wako Department Store in Tokyo.

The rabbits are the work of three individuals:  Takashi Wakamiya was in charge of the true lacquer work giving the red and black rabbits their distinctive high-gloss lacquer finish.  The original forms in wood were carved by Arisa Oguro.  And the ceramic form to which the true lacquer was applied was made by Seiko Wakasugi.

If nothing else, collaborative work such as this is perhaps a new “tradition”.  But of course this work is so much more as it creates what perhaps one individual could not easily make.  It is perhaps part of the future.

This exhibition is on from Friday 14th September until Monday 24th September (Only open until 17:00 on 24th)

More information in Japanese is available at the site below.  Some information is also available in English (machine translation) from the same site.

https://www.wako.co.jp/exhibitions/588

This is a joint piece of work by Haruo Mitsuda (metalwork for the butterfly), Chikuunsai Tanabe (bamboo work) and Takashi Wakamiya (lacquerwork) for Hikoju Makie Workshop. 

Do feel free to pass on the address of this blog to anyone you think will be interested.  Or share it on a social media site.  Should you wish to leave a comment, please do so by clicking on the comment mark at the bottom left of this or any of the other posts.   If you have found this blog interesting, why not become a follower.  Thank you.

On Route 249

By the Road

Driving around the Noto Peninsula is a delight.  First of all, there is very little traffic.  The roads are well maintained and the signage is good.  Besides being in Japanese, place names are also displayed in Roman letters.  Anyway, these days a SatNav will keep you on the right road to your desired destination.

North along Route 249 is where the Sea of Japan battles the craggy edge of the Noto Peninsula.

Then there is the scenery.  Route 249 north from Wajima, for instance, follows the coast and provides a variety of views of the Sea of Japan, which tends to be rough or at least has a swell with breaking waves.  In the winter it can be very rough though.

Buoy-o-buoy—family fun beside Route 249.

Buoy-o-buoy—an installation worthy of a second look beside Route 249.

Without reaching the northern tip of the peninsula, Route 249 turns east and negotiates a steeply rising loop in the road.  It is a surprise to suddenly find yourself high above the coast and traversing a bridge across a deep valley, which runs down to the sea.

The Kuromaru House is a tribute to the ageless skills of the carpenter.

After passing through a tunnel the road gradually descends and passes close to where the Kuromaru House stands.  This folk house deserves a post to itself.  And will get one in due course.

A little further down Route 249 we come into Suzu.  It is here that the FunaAsobi Gallery occupies and old farmhouse, which is definitely worth a visit. (Search FunaAsobi Gallery on from Noto.  Closed November to April Tel: +81 (0)768-82-3960)

But quite soon this major route turns south and begins to skirt the eastern coast of the peninsula.  More views of the sea ensue but this time it is the calmer waters of the sea proper and the almost enclosed, often mirror-like expanse of Nanao Bay.  Much further on, Route 249 becomes Route 159 and continues southward to Kanazawa.  Before that it is possible to join Route 1 and to wend your way back north to Wajima where you can reflect on all that you have seen.  And to even have a bit of a chuckle perhaps.

“I am sorry for any inconvenience caused”.

Bill Tingey Photo © Copyright

Do feel free to pass on the address of this blog to anyone you think will be interested.  Or share it on a social media site.  Should you wish to leave a comment, please do so by clicking on the comment mark at the bottom left of this or any of the other posts.   If you have found this blog interesting, why not become a follower.  Thank you.