My favorite pieces 1

I would like to show you one of my favorite pieces.

This is a brooch made by Ms Akiko Fukui, a knitter.

This piece was made as an Obidome for the Obidome exhibition, but I use it as a brooch. I think it matches my polka-dot clothes. The material is PVC wire.

Akiko said PVC wire is a bit nuisance material. If the temperature is high, it becomes too loose to knit, if it is low, it becomes too hard to knit.

When I asked her to make some buttons using PVC wire, it was in midsummer. I remember she said that she had to control her room temperature.

Akiko Fukui, PVC wire buttons:
http://buttonhouse.jp/m_others.html

http://buttonhouse.jp

The Splendor of Japanese Export Crafts Exhibition

The other day, I visited TOBACCO & SALT MUSEUM in Shibuya to see the special exhibition “ The Splendor of Japanese Export Crafts”. It was wonderful collection! 

I heard the Meiji Government exported a variety of crafts overseas as a way of obtaining foreign currencies, but I have never seen the real ones.

In the collection, Yosegi writing desk was outstanding.  I have never seen such a big work with Yosegi.

Yosegi, the art of marquetry has a long tradition in Japan. You can see them in Odawara or Hakone in Kanagawa Pref. now. I sometimes buy small pieces such as small boxes, chopsticks, trays etc. for souvenir, but I have never imagined a writing desk covered with marquetry. How gorgeous!

By the way the museum is run by JT.  The admission fee is only 100yen.

It is a small museum, but unique as you can guess from the name.  It is one of the few museums in the world that specializes in tobacco and salt.  There is a nice cafeteria in the ground floor.  If you have a chance to go to Shibuya, it is worth visiting once.

http://www.jti.co.jp/Culture/museum/index.html

http://buttonhouse.jp

I visited Kaoru Nakano Exhibition "washi jewelry

On the last Tuesday, I visited Kaoru Nakano exhibition in Aoyama.

It has been one year and half since I met Kaoru last time at Obidome exhibition in Kyoto.

It was in 2007 when I knew Ms. Kaoru Nakano for the first time as a jewelry artist using washi, Japanese traditional handmade papers.

 At that time, I was looking for new artists for the 3rd Obidome exhibition in 2008.

 First I happened to see her work at a gallery in Ginza, after that I sent a fax to ask her joining the exhibition.

Her works using Japanese paper is so unique. Can you imagine the accessories of paper?

Japanese paper is tough enough and a little bit shiny. Washi, Japanese papers are made in different areas of Japan. Kaoru uses Kurotani washi, intangible cultural properties in Kyoto.

Kaoru Nakano

Obidome "untitled"

Kyoko Ishikawa

Buttonhouse

http://buttonhouse.jp