Detail: The 30 artworks in this exhibition
reveal the versatility of lacquer as a
media used by Japanese artists
to create containers, trays, plaques,
braziers, and screens. A wide range of
techniques are represented to
demonstrate how lacquer was used during
the last century to create objects of
enduring beauty. The
selected artworks reflect the changing
styles and tastes of successive
generations of lacquer artists who
produced designs based on plants,
animals, and other elements of nature.
Lacquer is the sap from a tree that
grows in Japan and elsewhere in Asia.
After it is purified and
processed, lacquer turns into a clear,
viscous liquid that becomes very strong
and durable once it
hardens. Various pigments are added to
lacquer to give it its color. Black,
red, and gold are most common.
In addition, mother-of-pearl, eggshell,
and precious metals are added to the
glossy objects to produce
stunning visual effects. Lacquer needs a
foundation to support it and give it its
shape. It is applied to
wood, bamboo, cloth, paper, and other
materials that form its body.
To demonstrate the intricacies of the
lacquer-making process, the exhibition
includes a specially
commissioned box that holds samples of
raw lacquer and the tools and materials
used by lacquer artists. It
shows the step-by-step techniques of
lacquer making and conveys the
intricacies of this uniquely Japanese
art form.
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