Thousand Faces: Sakewares Exhibition III
2024.2.06 - 2024.3.02
Following the popularity of the " Thousand Faces: Sakewares Exhibition " in 2018 and 2023, we will be launching the " Thousand Faces: Sakewares Exhibition III'' in February. As spring arrives, we will bring you a diverse visual and cultural feast, celebrating the coming of the new year. This exhibition will showcase contemporary glass, tinware, silverware, lacquerware, and ceramics sake vessels by ten Japanese masters: Maimi Tsurubayashi, Mio Kosaka, Toshiyasu Nakamura, Yuka Yamazaki, Kotaro Uranaka, Ryuhei Sako, Yuma Takahashi, Hiroyuki Yamada, Natumi Itaya, and Tomoko Taki. These ten artists, with different materials and unique skills, present the sublime visual beauty and contemporary craftsmanship through the transformation of traditional techniques.
Maimi Tsurubayashi's works follow a rigorous process, delicately adjusting angles during cutting to create their own unique spectrum of colours. The smooth surface reveals the inherent transparency of glass, emitting different radiance under light. The shimmering colours embody Tsurubayashi's consistent creative goal, resonating within the hearts of different individuals.
Inspired by the Japanese cultural and aesthetic concept of "wrapping" (包む), Mio Kosaka aims to create works that can accommodate different ideas and exude gentleness. Through intricate bubbles forming spiral patterns, countless bubbles interweave in glass, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship.
Toshiyasu Nakamura with a mastery of technique, a unique aesthetic perspective, and years of personal design experience, Nakamura imbues each glass artwork with a vibrant sense of life by boldly and passionately carving both classic and modern patterns. The interplay between the transparent, crystalline glass and the vividly coloured patterns creates a visually stunning experience.
Yuka Yamazaki utilises the challenging technique of " chūbuki blown glass " (mid-air blowing) to shape her artwork, combining mosaic-like colourful blocks to create patterns. When sunlight passes through the clear glass, it produces a dazzling array of colours, creating a beautiful masterpiece.
Kotaro Uranaka's works blend seasonal scenery such as wind and snow, forests, and the blossoming of flowers, transcending the form of objects using metal as the medium. His pure tin sake vessels enhance the sweetness and smoothness of the sake, allowing us to savour the different layers of flavours in Japanese rice wine.
Ryuhei Sako has won numerous awards over the years in traditional Japanese metalworking exhibitions.In the past, Sako enjoyed creating gold artworks with a technique called " Mokume-gane," which involves creating patterns with colour variations. This time, he has specially brought unique and expressive pure silver sake vessels for his friends in Hong Kong. Each piece is like a meticulously crafted sculpture that fascinates the viewer.
Yuma Takahashi demonstrates a wide variety of expressions through his skillful use of coloured lacquer techniques. His primary focus is on the transformative Henturi (colour-changing lacquer) technique, where each polishing session unveils fresh scenery. This approach creates a renewed sense of tradition, reminiscent of the enduring legacy of lacquer culture spanning over 9,000 years.
Hiroyuki Yamada's unique “Shigaraki ware” applies vibrant colours, showcasing the ever-changing charm of ceramic art with imaginative and sensory approaches. In addition to sake vessels, he will also exhibit one-of-a-kind ceramic speakers. Believing in the principle that "form determines sound," he fully utilises the unique vibrations of ceramics to create unprecedented sound quality, making his ceramic speakers both works of art and high-end audio equipment.
Natumi Itaya's works are like flowers growing in nature, joyfully embracing the fresh air. The exterior is predominantly white, while the interior is adorned with gold and silver, resembling a quietly blooming flower that awaits people's astonished gaze.
Tomoko Taki's style is characterised by humour and whimsy, breaking away from the functional form of vessels to create visually pleasing sake pourers. Sake and sake vessels complement each other.
When sake is gently poured into the sake vessel, it releases its fragrance within the cup. The vessel serves as a carrier of touch, resonating with the sake. As we raise our cups and savour the sake, it dances in our mouths, allowing our taste buds to experience the rhythm of the drink. We sincerely invite everyone to come and visit, appreciate the beautiful sake vessels before us, and find the vessels that resonate with them.
