japanese bamboo beppu craftsmanship

japanese bamboo: tracing the legend of beppu craftsmanship thailand creative & design center, bangkok on now until april 25th, 2010

display of woven bamboo baskets and vessels

the current exhibition at the thailand creative & design center (TCDC), explores the process and success behind bamboo handicraft in the japanese city of beppu.

general view

the traditional vases, contemporary sculptures and other objects produced by beppu’s best-known bamboo craftsmen / weavers, have become highly sought after by collectors worldwide. in 2008, sales of bamboo handicrafts made in beppu in kyushu’s oita prefecture, totaled over 600 million yen.

each piece began as an ordinary piece of bamboo, sourced locally and in abundance. transforming the raw ingredient into a work of art that requires a lot of attention to detail and a special skill-set of tools and techniques. recognition of the value of this craft has enabled local craftsmen to hone their skills, experiment with new designs and develop their own distinct styles. meanwhile, the commitment to continuous development and training of the master-apprentice training combined with a modern teaching system, help ensure that beppu craftsmanship will continue to thrive in the contemporary world.

general view

display of bamboo baskets and sculptures

general view

woven bamboo baskets

general view

display of tools and bamboo samples

demonstrating bamboo weaving techniques

various weave samples made from bamboo

documentation of the beppu craftsmen’s process

cardboard tubes have been used to divide the exhibition space