Homo Faber
12 Stone Garden
Curators - Naoto Fukasawa - Tokugo Uchida
In this evocative exhibition imagined and designed by Naoto Fukasawa - above - visitors will discover the masterpieces of 12 Japanese National Living Treasures. These master artisans, whose traditional skills are prized in Japan as integral to its cultural heritage, have been selected with renowned museum director Tokugo Uchida. The artworks on display, including kimonos, an urushi lacquered harp and a bamboo flower basket, are simply yet reverentially displayed in the magnificent Palladian Refectory on 12 blocks shaped as stones. Short films provide an insight into the working processes of the masters who handcrafted these sometimes unassuming, but always exceptional pieces.
"I am an artist when I contemplate and an
artisan when I create."
Kunihiko Moriguchi - Japanese National Living Treasure
Category - Yuzen Textile - designated - 2007
"The intricacy and sturdiness of bamboo drive from the chi of the plant...
and when this chi meets my personal energy, the resulting work has a message to convey."
Noboru Fujinuma - Japanese National Living Treasure 
Category - Bamboo Work - designated - 2012
The Green Shadow Kimono of Tsumugi Fabric with Patterned Kasuri
depicts the image of some water birds enjoying themselves in a pond nestled deep in the green mountains.
Sonoko Sasaki - Japanese National Living Treasure
Category - Tsumugi Textiles - designated - 2005
"Express through a personified figure what essentially has
no visual representations."
Komao Hayashi - Japanese National Living Treasure 
Category - Toso Dolls - designated 2002
"Tradition stems from exploration into new frontiers and, rather than through understanding, it is, or should be, communicated through creativity."
Jun Isezaki - Japanese National Living Treasure
Category - Bizen Ware Pottery - designated 2004
The Saiyu harp is an Italian Salvi harp to which Kazumi Murose applied maki-e with mother of pearl inlay to express the cultural connections between West and East, represented by the vine arabesque.
Kazumi Murose - Japanese National Living Treasure
Category - maki-e - designated 2008
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