JAPANESE EXHIBITION ORGANIZED AT KOLKATA BY JAPANESE CONSULATE

By Swarnali Goswami (TNI Kolkata)

Webdesk, TNI Kolkata, 21^st March, 2016: The Japan Foundation and Consulate General of Japan (Kolkata) arranged to exhibit an array of handicrafts made from traditional materials and techniques at the Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata. ‘Handcrafted Form: Traditions and Techniques’ introduces two types of craft objects in the exhibition.

1. Ceramics, Textiles, Metalwork, Lacquerware and woodcraft.
2. Bamboo crafts and Papermaking.

Following the Industrial Revolution in the West, Japan also saw the modernization of production during the Meiji era. With the introduction of machines, most of the craft objects that until then had been made by hand were replaced by mass-produced, industrially manufactured goods. In the first category, there are several varieties in Ceramics. Among these are Kasama Ware (18 – 19^th century to the present), Mino Ware (7^th century to the present), Yokkaichi Banko Ware (18^th century to the present), Kyo Ware (8^th century to the present), Bizen Ware (late 12^th – early 13^th century to the present), Hagi Ware (early 17th century to the present), Imari Ware (early 17th century to the present). Textile comprises of Ojiya Ramie Crepe (17th century to the present), Yuki Pongee (8^th century to the present), Tokyo Hand Drawn Yuzen (late 17^th – early 18^th century to the present) and Shuri Hanakura weaving (15^th century to the present).

The Metalwork exhibit displays Nanbu Cast-Iron Ware (17th century to the present), Tsubame Hammered Copperware (18th century to the present) and Takaoka Copperware (16^th century to the present). Woodcraft consists of Odate Bentwood (17^thcentury to the present), Edo Joinery (18^th century to the present) and Hakone Marquetry (18^th century to the present). In the second category, Bamboo crafts are made of Suruga fine Bamboo Basketry (17^th century to the present) while the Paper crafts are made of Etchu Hand-Made Paper (8th century to the present), Edo Decorated Hand Made Paper (8^th century to the present) and Marugame Fans (17^th century to the present). This exhibition introduces handcrafted objects made from traditional materials and techniques from all over Japan. Representative objects designated as “Traditional Craft Objects” under the Japanese Governments’ Traditional Manufactured Goods Law form the core of the exhibition supplemented by works of crafters and artists.

Edited By: Jonali Karmakar (TNI Siliguri)
Photos: Swarnali Goswami (TNI)