The Japan Foundation, Manila (JFM), in partnership with Ayala Museum and with support from JT International (Philippines) Inc., commemorates the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami with a traveling exhibition that recognizes the traditional handicrafts of the region steadfastly recovering from the calamity. Beautiful Handicrafts of Tohoku, Japan opens on June 16 at the Ground Floor Gallery of Ayala Museum.
On exhibition are around 70 works that best exemplify the craftsmen’s high level of skill in basket weaving, lacquerware, pottery, embroidery, and wood crafts. Some of the curated works include tsugaru lacquerware and kogin embroidery from Aomori prefecture; Mage wappa (bent woodwork) and kaba zaiku (bark craftsmanship) from Akita prefecture; E-rosoku (decorated candles) and cloth decorated using tsutsugaki dyeing technique from Fukushima prefecture.
The traveling exhibition also features the late mingei (folk craft) movement artists who were not necessarily from the Tohoku region but whose works were significantly influenced by the traditional Tohoku handicrafts. There are wood block prints by Shiko Munakata, screens and textiles by Keisuke Serizawa, and ceramics by Shoji Hamada and Kanjiro Kawai. Serizawa and Hamada were both designated as Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property by the Japanese government.
In July, a one-day lecture and hands-on workshop on a traditional craft common to both Tohoku and the Philippines will be held. Schedule and other details will be released soon. Please visit www.jfmo.org.ph and www.facebook.com/jfmanila for updates. You may also call JFM at 811-6155 to 58 or send a message to email@jfmo.org.ph for inquiries.
Prior to Manila, the exhibition has already traveled to Hungary, China, Vietnam, and Thailand. Beautiful Handicrafts of Tohoku, Japan runs at the Ayala Museum until July 26 before it travels to South Korea. The exhibition is also part of JFM’s lineup of activities for the 2015 Philippines-Japan Friendship Month in July.
Ayala Museum is located at Makati Avenue corner De La Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, Makati City. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Ayala Museum’s basic admission fees apply: P150 (regular) and P75 (students and senior citizens).