EXHIBITION
SAKIORI
“Kuro” sereis – A series of works using torn tomesode (formal kimono with a crest) fabric as the weft.
Photo Left）Saki-Ori Artist: Michiko Arikawa / Photo Right）Bag Designer: Yoko Inoue
The Nippon Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition themed around “Sakiori,” a traditional Japanese recycling technique passed down since the Edo period.
“Sakiori” is a weaving technique in which old kimonos and fabrics, no longer in use, are torn into strips and woven as weft threads. This recycling method was widely practiced when fabric and threads were precious resources. In the past, cotton was mainly used, but in modern times, various materials such as Western clothing and tenugui (Japanese hand towels) are incorporated, creating more free and unique designs.
In this exhibition, along with Sakiori textiles, we will display various practical items such as bags, table runners, and noren (traditional Japanese curtains) made from Sakiori fabric. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind creation, as no two Sakiori works made from recycled fabrics are the same.
This exhibition will particularly feature works made from “Tomesode,” a formal kimono, and “Beni,” the red linings of kimono. Although these works are made from the same black or red fabrics, they showcase subtly different textures depending on the individuality of the vintage garments and the variation in warp threads. Check out the “KURO” and “BENI” series.
Additionally, on September 27 (Friday) and 28 (Saturday), we will hold workshops where visitors can experience Sakiori weaving.
We look forward to welcoming you to the exhibition.
________________________________
Workshop Details
Dates: Friday, September 27, 2024, and Saturday, September 28, 2024
Times: 11:00 AM / 2:00 PM / 4:00 PM (2 participants per session)
Fee: $30
Duration: 40 minutes to 1 hour
Details: Choose your preferred Sakiori yarn and create a 12×15 cm
Sakiori textile.
________________________________
Exhibiting Artists
Sakiori Artist: Michiko Arikawa
Bag Designer: Yoko Inoue
Major Exhibitions
August 2018: Shimonoseki Daimaru Event
October 2018: Gallery & Cafe Girasole Two-Person Weaving Exhibition
May 2019: Old British Consulate Gallery, Shimonoseki
January 2021: My Craft Exhibition, Shimonoseki Daimaru
December 2022: Moji Red Brick Place Creative Bag Exhibition
________________________________
Sponsored by: Asahi Shuzo Co., Ltd.
Organized by: B-SIG Inc.
| Period | Thursday, September 26, 2024 – Wednesday, October 2, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Hours | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Mon–Fri), 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Sat) |
| Location | The Nippon Gallery at The Nippon Club |
| Admission | Free admission |
| Detail |
UPCOMING EXHIBITION
Exhibition Announcement: Born from Fire: The Art of Sajiro Tanaka, 87 years old potter – “From the Jomon period to the Future”
Period October 17 (Thu) – October 23 (Wed), 2024
The Nippon Gallery is excited to announce the exhibition “From the Jomon Period to the Future – Sajiro Tanaka Exhibition” from October 17 to October 23, 2024. The exhibition will showcase the latest works of the renowned Karatsu ware potter, Sajiro Tanaka. At 87 years old, Tanaka continues to dedicate himself to firing kilns at his Yamase kiln, located 700 meters deep in the mountains. For him, firing is not only a production process but also a sacred ritual in communion with nature and a personal battle. His works, born from the unpredictability of fire and deep respect for nature, radiate a powerful beauty that captivates viewers.
Tanaka has developed a dynamic, free-spirited style that transcends traditional boundaries, having encountered master potter Tokuro Kato and tea ceramics expert Seizo Hayashiya. His pieces reflect his passionate approach to life, blending the fiery intensity of his craft with a humble surrender to nature’s laws. Through his creations, one can feel the interplay of nature’s forces and human passion, celebrating the vitality of life.
Having undertaken over 1,000 kiln firings, Tanaka has cultivated his unique philosophy and aesthetic. His three-day dialogues with the flames, reaching 1300°C, are nothing short of a soul’s ritual. The beauty of his glazes, born from the union of chance and precision, and the textures shaped by fire speak to the harmony of nature and humanity in his work.
The exhibition will feature numerous new works that embody Tanaka’s accumulated skills and spirit. Using clay dug personally from the Yamase kiln site, Tanaka has crafted pieces with a delicate touch and unique colors, achieving a perfect balance between calmness and strength, spontaneity, and control. The exhibited items, including tea bowls, vases, and pagodas, are rooted in the tradition of old Karatsu ware while also embracing a contemporary sensibility, manifesting Tanaka’s pursuit of “Tozen Ichinyo” – the unity of pottery and Zen. These works evoke the passage of time from the past to the future and will deeply move all who visit.
Tanaka’s works are not merely ceramics; they are a fusion of the forces of nature and human passion, created through a life-risking engagement with fire. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to connect not only with his works but also with the very life that gave rise to them and to experience the message they convey to the future.
We warmly invite you to experience the passion of Sajiro Tanaka, who continues to walk alongside fire and impart the message of the future through his works. Don’t miss this exceptional chance to witness the world of Sajiro Tanaka’s passion and creativity.
About Sajiro Tanaka
Sajiro Tanaka, born in 1937 in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, has had an illustrious career in pottery. In 1965, he conducted excavations of Jomon and Yayoi pottery and researched dolmens. He mastered the hand-building technique and in 1971, conducted excavations of ancient Karatsu kilns, beginning his journey as a pottery creator.
In 1975, he built a climbing kiln at Jorakuji Temple in Handa, Karatsu City, and received lay ordination at Eiheiji Temple. In 1979, he received guidance from Tokuro Kato. From 1985 onwards, he has held annual solo exhibitions at Kuroda Touen in Shibuya.
In 1987, he relocated his climbing kiln to the Yamase Mountains, naming it “Yamase Kiln.” In 2003, he built a semi-underground, six-chambered climbing kiln in Eonyang, Ulsan, South Korea, where he fired works for seven years, naming it “Kizan Kiln.”
In 2009, he became the first Japanese ceramic artist to hold a solo exhibition at the Lotte Department Store in Seoul. In 2011, he held the “Sajiro Tanaka Exhibition: 40th Anniversary of Enyo” at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi. In 2014, he held the “150th Anniversary of the Opening of Japan and Switzerland: Sajiro Tanaka Pottery Exhibition” in Geneva, Switzerland.
In 2016, he held a two-person exhibition, “Exhibition of Munemaro Ishiguro, Living National Treasure, and Sajiro Tanaka,” in New York, and in 2019, he held the “Sajiro Tanaka: Touzen Ichinyo Exhibition” at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi. By 2024, he had held four solo exhibitions at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, including the “Sajiro Tanaka: Fighting the Fire God Exhibition” in May 2024.
