【24th August – 7th September 2024】
This pop-up will be a release event for curator Manami Okazaki‘s new book, Japanese Mingei Folk Crafts by TUTTLE.
Folk crafts are practical items made by artisans and imbued with a simple and rustic aesthetic that is calming to the soul. Fans of folk craft are attracted to the beauty of the mundane and even though folk-craft pieces are made with utility in mind, they reflect modern and minimalist design sensibilities that espouse a restrained, under- stated beauty. Compared to commercial items that are made in bulk in a factory setting, folk crafts are made with skilled hands. They signify an artisanal life characterised by perseverance, dedication and a reverence for the process rather than just the product. As such, the narrative and backstory reflected in the work has a beauty in itself.
Join Sway Gallery for the Mingei Now exhibition (24th August – 7th September 2024) that celebrates mingei, with a particular focus on current pieces that also appeal to contemporary consumers. Most of the items are straight from remote artisan ateliers from Hokkaido in the North to Okinawa in the South. On sale are rare items from some of the pioneers to current makers, ranging from vintage printed matter to charming woodworking sculptures. Several hundred authentic pieces are on show.
ABOUT THE BOOK AUTHOR:
Manami Okazaki is a journalist and researcher based in Japan. She has published over a dozen books on Japanese culture, including Japanese Kokeshi Dolls, Takumi and Tattoo in Japan. She also contributed to Mingei, Art Without Heroes. She holds a Master of Arts in Journalism from Columbia University. Her journalism has been featured in the Japan Times, Wall Street Journal, South China Morning Post, Guardian, Lonely Planet, Transit and other global media outlets. She is also a curator of Japanese folk craft exhibitions across the world.
INTERESTING LINKS:
WEBSITE
INSTAGRAM
EVENT OPENING HOURS:
Mon-Fri: 11am-7pm
Saturday: 12pm-6pm
Sunday: 11am-5pm
ALL THE ARTWORKS WILL BE FOR SALE