Modern Japanese Lacquer

The fascinating art of lacquer painting could be described as essentially Japanese. It’s painting presents a dream world inspired by the nature of classical Japanese literature. The creation of lacquer art demands incredible feats of concentration and attention, sometimes over a period of years, with their scenes made up of many dozens of meticulously painted layers of lacquer.

STRUGGLE FOR RECOGNITION

Lacquer painting, with its history stretching back millennia, is deeply rooted in Japanese culture. In the early 20th century, artists searching for a new visual idiom brought significant innovations to the art form. This is precisely the moment at which the exhibition begins.

Despite the many developments in this period, artists were criticised for lacking innovation. Their frustration at this prompted a struggle for recognition that forced them to reinvent themselves. And this they did, with great success, leading to an explosion of creativity, personal design, and expressive use of colour. In the exhibition this evolution culminates in the almost photographic depiction of a cormorant on a rock in the surf. The exhibition presents these developments in the form of almost 70 artworks.

BOOKS

The accompanying English-language catalogue Breaking out of Tradition: Japanese Lacquer 1890-1950, by Jan Dees, is published by Hirmer Verlag.

And in his Dutch-language book De Gedroomde Wereld: over de beginselen van de Japanse lakkunst (‘The dreamed world: on the principles of Japanese lacquer art’), Jan Dees examines the designs and techniques used for some 30 artworks, while also offering fascinating insights into the many themes from Japanese literature and culture that form the basis for the scenes depicted on lacquer boxes.

VITAL PARTNERSHIPS

Modern Japanese Lacquer is made possible in part by the Japan Foundation. The exhibition has come about in collaboration with Museum für Lackkunst in Münster. It is curated by guest curator Jan Dees, a specialist in the field of Japanese lacquer painting. The core exhibits from the collection of Jan Dees and René van der Star are complemented by loaned works from Japan, the United States and Europe.