Panel Discussion

Comments on the Jurors’ Special Prize Winner s（2/3）

TAMAYA (MC)  ─────  Thank you. Next, the Shinichi Yamamura Prize winner, “Urushi Drops” by Chikako GOTO. Mr YAMAMURA, please give us your comments.

Shinichi YAMAMURA  ─────  Congratulations on your excellent work, Ms GOTO. Among all the submitted works this time, yours is the smallest and prettiest. At a length of 10mm, this beautiful spindle-shaped jewel can be attached to an obi sash. They are called obi charms for Japanese kimono. Although it is very small, it is actually surprisingly finely processed when you look closely. Inside the space of the small raindrops, chinkin gold inlay is beautifully applied. According to the angle, it softly reflects brilliant flashes of light. It is not flaunting but showing itself in a humble way, one of Japanese people’s aesthetic values. When it comes to jewelry, artists tend to show off loudly, however, this obi charm is for wearing subtly with an obi sash. This casual elegance is very beautiful.

In addition to “Urushi drops”, other accessories and earrings were submitted. I thought that the precise techniques in such a small space is beautiful. The beauty softly shines and sometimes it becomes invisible according to the angle of the light. Japanese people are good at expressing the transience of fleeting moments. To me, this miniature world is the most beautiful.

TAMAYA (MC)  ─────  Thank you. Next, the Setsuko Yamada Prize winner “Moon Flower” by Rabea GEBLER.

YAMADA  ─────  I was struck by how beautifully she created a soft vessel out of natural shapes. The finish is lacquered on the outside, contrasting with the beauty of the inside which is unfinished. I chose this work because I thought that if something like this entered our lives like flower petals, the presence of urushi would take on a different meaning. While thinking about what to serve with it, you can keep it close and enjoy using it, whether it’s for vegetables, soups or dried foods. The unique lightness of lacquer is also wonderful, and I felt as if each petal had been made into its own vessel.

During the Final Assessment I was thinking that there is still a lot of potential, and I wonder how we can appeal to the people who will use that potential. I work as a coordinator, so I have to be a bridge between creators of urushi ware and urushi ware users. I hope that lacquer culture will be disseminated from Japan to the world in a positive manner.

A friend of mine runs a Japanese restaurant in Paris and I hear that people there are very interested in urushi and its use. I hope that the world of urushi will continue to expand and spread new warmth and beauty. I felt like I really wanted to hold this piece and take it home with me.