The Art of Takashi Wakamiya: Contemporary Japanese Lacquer

The University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG) of the University of Hong Kong is delighted to feature the work of renowned Japanese artist Takashi Wakamiya. Collaborating with his studio, Hikojū Makie, and with the support of the Japanese Consulate in Hong Kong and Macau, The Art of Takashi Wakamiya: Contemporary Japanese Lacquer exhibition will display a selection of finely executed contemporary objects in Japanese lacquer.

Steeped in history, Japan has a highly developed tradition of creating exquisite objects from lacquer, both for decorative and domestic use. Over the years, Hikojū Makie has grown into a respected workshop that brings together celebrated traditions, innovations, impeccable quality and detail-oriented craftsmanship.

An acclaimed artist for 30 years, Wakamiya excels in the practice and teaching of traditional lacquer techniques with a high level of precision and has developed an interest in executing, in lacquer, East Asian objects historically made from unrelated materials, such as bronze or ceramic. His studio creates these imitations with such remarkable exactness that onlookers are fooled by the medium. The finely applied lacquer is, when held, much lighter than the metal or clay that it reproduces. A master of deception, Wakamiya and Hikojū Makie also specialise in the creation of life-like animals (beetles, grasshoppers), vegetables and fruits (corn, pumpkins).

In a class of their own, these contemporary lacquer works exemplify the unparalleled skill and modern outlook at Hikojū Makie, where a traditional material is executed to perfection and employed in a modern, often surprising approach. Much more than a medium for the creation of a decorative surface, the sculptural forms and superbly nuanced colours make three-dimensional artefacts that are second to none.