An extraordinary travelling exhibition, Contemporary Wood-Carved Netsuke, a uniquely Japanese art form, was unveiled at Ayala malls Greenbelt 5 just recently by The Japan Foundation, Manila, in collaboration with Ayala Museum and Ayala Malls, with the support of Ateneo de Manila University Japanese Studies Program, Arete, and the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines. This exhibition is free and open to the public from July 1 to 21.
Helping us cover the event is arkadymac.com’s Correspondent and Photographer Kami, taking part in the lavish and engaging reception that marked the opening of the exhibit, well attended by key figures of the art community and the diplomatic corps.
Beforehand, there was The Art of Netsuke: Talk and Demonstration With Netsuke Masters Tadamine Nakagawa and Asuka Kajiura, and Karl Cheng Chua of Ateneo de Manila University. It was followed by a short program of key figures giving insightful opening remarks on the nature and the significance of the exhibit, with renowned netsuke artists and experts from Japan, Mr. Tadamine Nakagawa and Ms. Asuka Kajiura, in attendance for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, formally opening the exhibit.
Attendees were then welcome to view the many amazing netsuke by various Japanese artists on exhibit. They truly were remarkable.
As kimono culture flourished during the Edo period in Japan (1603-1868), netsuke, small carvings, were created as toggles to secure the small personal items such as money pouches, inrō (medicine containers), or tobacco containers worn suspended on cords from the obi (a sash worn with kimono). What began as functional pieces to prevent those little containers from falling to the ground evolved into small but highly creative carvings. In Japan, some netsuke enthusiasts and carvers have managed to keep the tradition alive. Today, classic netsuke have gained international acclaim as remarkably detailed carvings, collected as valuable art pieces or worn as fashion statements with traditional Japanese clothing.
“Netsuke is unique in that daily commodities have evolved into an art form in the course of time. I believe viewers can enjoy and appreciate the delicate work of art created by Japanese craftsmanship.” shares Hiroaki Uesugi, director of The Japan Foundation, Manila. >(a sash worn with kimono). What began as functional pieces to prevent those little containers from falling to the ground evolved into small but highly creative carvings. In Japan, some netsuke enthusiasts and carvers have managed to keep the tradition alive. Today, classic netsuke have gained international acclaim as remarkably detailed carvings, collected as valuable art pieces or worn as fashion statements with traditional Japanese clothing.
Contemporary Wood-Carved Netsuke, our new traveling exhibition, is an innovative contemporary crafts exhibition presenting 65 works by contemporary Japanese netsuke carvers and artists. kimono). What began as functional pieces to prevent those little containers from falling to the ground evolved into small but highly creative carvings. In Japan, some netsuke enthusiasts and carvers have managed to keep the tradition alive. Today, classic netsuke have gained international acclaim as remarkably detailed carvings, collected as valuable art pieces or worn as fashion statements with traditional Japanese clothing.
In celebration of Philippine-Japan Friendship Month this July, the exhibition run also coincides with the 22nd Japanese Film Festival or EIGASAI, screened in film theaters around the Philippines, and The Strangers, a dance collaboration to be held at the Blackbox Theater, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
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