“My Japanese Discoveries II: Hand-Hammering Traditions of Gyokusendo” Exhibition
Onishi Gallery
This event has ended.
Onishi Gallery announces the second installment of its latest exhibition series, My Japanese Discoveries, sharing highlights of Japanese heritage and culture with the New York public. In this second show, Hand-Hammering Traditions of Gyokusendo, unique metalwork traditions developed nearly 200 years ago are showcased through fine and functional hand-shaped copperware.
The iridescent metalwork of Gyokusendo is rooted in the landscape of Niigata Prefecture. Niigata Prefecture, which stretches along the coast of the Sea of Japan on Honshu Island, is known as one of the main high-quality rice and sake producers in Japan, the origin site of the decorative Koi fish, and producer of the highest volume of Azaleas and cut Lilies across the country. From this ecologically fertile area, distinctive cultural traditions have also flourished. Gyokusendo, set among Niigata Prefecture’s famous rice fields, has been manufacturing functional and beautiful metal crafts since the Edo period. Drawing upon local resources, primarily raw copper, this seventh generation company is an exceptional example of how a creative tradition is nurtured and mastered over time.
While Gyokusendo first produced only daily use objects such as pans, pots, and kettles, the company expanded over the generations to include aesthetically driven forms and decorative items as well. The traditional metal craft techniques used today employ over 200 hand hammers and 300 iron shaping rods. Declared an “Intangible Cultural Treasure” by both Niigata Prefecture and the Japanese National Cultural Affairs Agency, the creative process is labor-intensive and meticulously executed by masters of the art. This exhibition will showcase much of Gyokusendo’s functional ware, including beverage cups, sake/wine bottle coolers, tea kettles, teapots, tea cadies, and flower vases.
Additionally on display will be several unique pieces created by Tamagawa Norio, brother of sixth heir of Gyokusendo and, in 2010, designated one of Japan’s “Living National Treasure” artists for his “Mokume-gane” technique. This mixed metal technique involves the manipulation of multiple metal sheets to produce a wood-like texture, the name of the technique translating closely to “wood grain metal.”
Both Gyokusendo’s and Tamagawa Norio’s pieces, with their finely hammered, multi-faceted surfaces, bring together the delicacy of long-refined handwork and the strength of a metal form that has existed for hundreds of years, and that continues to astonish both tea-drinkers and beauty-seekers with their historic auras and innovative designs.
Media
Schedule
from November 11, 2014 to November 15, 2014
Opening Reception on 2014-11-11 from 18:00 to 20:00