eyes of sori yanagi exhibition at the japan folk crafts museum

woolen and tie-dyed costume
tibet, 20th century
L 126.0 cm.
image courtesy of the japan folk crafts museum

eyes of sori yanagi at the japan folk crafts museum, tokyo
now through november 21st, 2013 

ancient handcrafted art collected by the internationally renowned industrial designer munemichi yanagi, commonly known as sori yanagi, comprises the exhibition ‘eyes of sori yanagi’ at the japan folk crafts museum. sori yanagi, who passed away in 2011 (see jasper morrison’s tribute sent to designboom, here) held the position of director of the museum for 29 years from 1977 to 2006. throughout this time, his objective was to revive and enliven the beauty of ‘mingei’, the japanese folk art movement, in modern society. the exhibitions he organized throughout his career displayed a vast range of amassed materials he collected during his travels throughout japan and around the world. his acute eye for the humble beauty in the arts and crafts can be undeniably attributed to his father soetsu yanagi, founder of the museum. together their interest in traditional lifestyle and sympathy towards the unassumingly elegant led them to introduce unique and novel pieces to the museum’s collection. 

calao, hornbill
senufo tribe, republic of cote d’ivoire, 20th century
H 102.0 cm.
image courtesy of the japan folk crafts museum 

‘eyes of sori yanagi’ displays his own collections, pieces bequeathed by the yanagi family, and work inherited from his father. amongst the daily wares assembled from asia and africa are ceramics, masks, ‘kamon-ori’ folding paper, folk paintings, wooden pieces, metal wares from bearing primitive markings, and dyed and woven textiles from india, bhutan, tibet, and afghanistan. each item held a particular creative influence for sori yanagi; all were intentionally acquired to stimulate a new sense of value for the ‘mingei’ aesthetic. the represented works are not only a compilation of objects, but a materialization of the idea of simple, uncomplicated beauty that both sori yanagi and his father aspired to convey to the modern world.

maferu, tie-dyed cloth for skirt (for male) (detail)
bushong tribe, democratic republic of the congo, 20th century
image courtesy of the japan folk crafts museum