Exhibitions

Past Exhibition Collection Exhibition

Water in Crafts and Design: Color, Form, and Texture

Date

Location

National Crafts Museum

About

Under the theme of “water,” this exhibition focuses on water depicted in craft and design works, and on various water containers. Water has inspired many artists and has been presented in a variety of colors and shapes with different techniques. Enjoy the works that reveal the artists’ observational skills and individuality precisely because of the elusive subject of water, such as ripples drawn on maki-e lacquerware, woven bamboo that evokes a swift current, and a brilliantly dyed waterside scenery.

FUKAMI Sueharu, First Voyage , 1975
National Crafts Museum
Photo : Tomoya Nomura

Key Points of the Exhibition

●Works on the subject of “water,” which is familiar to everyone, and vessels used to hold water are presented. We recommend this exhibition for those who appreciate craft works for the first time or with your children!

●Leaflets with water-related episodes of the exhibited works will be distributed to all visitors to help appreciate the works.

Section 1. Water in Crafts and Design: Color, Form, and Texture

This section presents works that express water in various shapes and colors and related episodes to illustrate how the craft artists approached and captured water and how they sublimated it into their works.

SHONO Shounsai, Flower basket, “Doto (surging waves)”, 1956
National Crafts Museum
Photography by Yoneda Tasaburo ©1984
SERIZAWA Keisuke, Noren (doorway curtain), “Sacred Waterfall”, stencil dyeing on tsumugi silk, 1962
National Crafts Museum
Photography by Yoneda Tasaburo ©1980

Section 2. Holding Water

This section focuses on vessels that hold water, including jugs, glasses, water droppers, and mizusashi for the tea ceremony. Even vessels for the same purpose vary in style and design.

AWASHIMA Masakichi, Glass ware and container for ice, water-drop design, 1958
National Crafts Museum
Photography by Fujimori Takeshi ©1995
TAKAHASHI Tomoko, Blue water container, “Aldebaran” , 2017
National Crafts Museum
Photography by S&T PHOTO ©2019

Section 3. Water All Around

This section presents works that are associated with water from the title, or from motifs such as boats, fish, and shells. We invite each of you to view the works while imagining “colors of water, shapes of water.”

SUDA Kenji, Box, Kojo-getsuya (Moon Over a Lake), moon design in inlay, clear lacquer on maple wood, 2001
National Crafts Museum
Photography by S&T PHOTO ©2019
IWATA Toshichi, Shell, 1976
National Crafts Museum
Photography by Saiki Taku ©2007

Hours & Admissions

Location

National Crafts Museum

Date

July 7, 2023 – September 24, 2023

Time

9:30 – 17:30
※Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.

【Extended Hours】
Extended hours offered on July 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29, August 4, 5, 11, 12
Open until 20:00.
※Last admission is 30 minutes before closing.

Closed

Mondays (except July 17,September 18,2023) ,
July 18,September 19,2023

Admission

Individuals Groups (20 persons or more) Discount rate
Adults ¥300 ¥250 ¥250
Students (college/university) ¥150 ¥70 ¥70

Individuals

Adults

¥300

Students (college/university)

¥150

Groups (20 persons or more)

Adults

¥250

Students (college/university)

¥70

Discount rate

Adults

¥250

Students (college/university)

¥70

*The price in brackets is for discount coupon holders and group rate.
*Free for high school students, under 18, seniors (65 and over), and persons with disability and one person accompanying.
*All prices include tax.

Organizer

National Crafts Museum



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