The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Exquisite Japanese handcrafted items showcased at expo

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 11, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Exquisite Japanese handcrafted items showcased at expo

R. Sujatha

The show will be on till January 17 at Lalit Kala Akademi on Greams Road

ON DISPLAY: An exhibition of traditional Japanese handicraft items is on at Lalit Kala Akademi. — Photo: S. Thanthoni

CHENNAI: If you have patience then you may be able to figure out the 10 correct steps to open the small box. The box, made of wood fragments arranged in a geometric pattern, is from Kanagawa prefecture in Japan and was first made in the 18th century. The method, Hakone Marquetry, is used even today.

The 92 handcrafted items from Japan displayed at the Lalit Kala Akademi on Greams Road include bamboo products, paintbrushes, handmade paper, and ceramic and metalwork. The handcrafted life-like insects, intricately designed `insect holders,' cast-iron ware, copperware, hand woven cloth and porcelain products displayed are unique.

The household items are delicate and not used regularly even by the Japanese, as plastic imitations have replaced the fine pieces. The clay used to make these delicate pieces is also on display. Each area has its special kind of clay. Each product on display has an introductory note about the designer and the era the product first came into domestic use.

Among the collection are sake cups, metal jars to hold tea leaves, incense stick burners and a variety of plates that the Japanese use every day in their homes.

The industrial revolution in the West has made an impact on Japanese handicraft. Products that were till then hand produced began to be produced in bulk using machines. But, a small section of independent regional workshops continued to handcraft objects and Japan began producing exclusive works of art, reflecting the artisans' individuality and trait.

The show, which was inaugurated by Yuji Okada, Consul, Consulate General of Japan, will be on till January 17 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The show has been jointly organised by the Consulate General of Japan and ABK-AOTS Dosokai, Tamil Nadu Centre, in association with the Japan Foundation, Tokyo.

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