This exhibition explores the presence and legacy of Mingei, the Japanese folk craft movement founded in the late 1920’s by philosopher and critic Sōetsu Yanagi. Based on handcrafted art, the movement originally finds beauty in everyday ordinary and utilitarian objects created by nameless and unknown craftsmen.
The late rediscovery in contemporary art of certain traditional techniques such as ceramics or weavings that were crucial in the Mingei movement allows the exhibition to juxtapose historical and contemporary works.
Mingei Now features paintings, sculptures, ceramics, textile and design works. Curated by Nicolas Trembley, the exhibition juxtaposes historical pieces from Japanese Mingei artists with modern and contemporary artists inspired by Mingei.
This is the third Mingei related project organized by Nicolas Trembley. The two first acclaimed museum-quality exhibition's titled "Mingei are you here?" were shown at Pace gallery in London and New York in 2014.
The exhibition will display pieces from master ceramicists like Shoji Hamada, Kawai Kanjiro and Bernard Leach along contemporary artists Lee Ufan and Natsuko Uchino. Historical antiques objects will dialogue with contemporary designers such as Naoto Fukasawa, Jasper Morrison and Sori Yanagi.
Farmer’s coats, Boros or Ainu attush clothes will be exhibited with Okinawa early 20th century textiles and contemporary artworks weaved by Asakura Mitsuko or Brent Wadden and Mingei inspired paintings by Matthew Lutz Kinoy.
Nicolas Trembley
