Panel Discussion

2 Honorable Mention award-winning works(2/2)

NATSUME(MC) ───── Next, the Honorable Mention in the Design category:Layer by Eri ASANO & Misato SEKI. Mr SHIHO, I would like to call upon you for your comments.

SHIHO ───── To put it simply, this piece is quite cute. These adorable little accessories, which apply traditional lacquer techniques from Kagawa Prefecture, were selected for an Honorable Mention. Technically, it is called tsui-shitsu (polishing through multiple layers of colored lacquer), where plates of lacquer built up in 100 to 200 layers are cut at an angle to reveal the stratifications. I felt a great sense of style in the color choices for these layers.

With accessories, the back is often neglected, but these were properly finished in silver with meticulous care, revealing a delicacy characteristic of these creators.

While lacquer accessories have been made in various areas of production, they are often described as pretty, beautiful, or elegant. However, having known about this work for some time, I feel the word ‘cute’ fits it perfectly. Such proposals for familiar lacquer are very heartening; the work was highly valued for the sense of excitement and joy it brings to the wearer.

NATSUME(MC) ───── Thank you, Mr SHIHO.