上位入賞作品の講評

Kwon : First I would like to announce that Prof. Paik Tae Won passed away at the beginning of October 2008. I would like to express my sincerest condolences. He had been a member of the assessment panel since the first exhibition through the 6th exhibition and he had been greatly involved in the Ishikawa International Urushi Exhibition.
Thank you for inviting me as a member of the jury. This is the second time for me to join the Final Assessment Panel following the previous exhibition. I am sorry that the works to hang on the wall including three dimensional works are not satisfactory. But I felt happy that some excellent works express sensibility or propose new ideas and new function for our everyday life. Takeshi Igawa’s work received the Grand Prize. I think that he got the idea of this design from the stone knife in the Stone Age. The black Urushi on the concave surface is truly beautiful. The work is simple and sophisticated. The Rigid Urethane Foam material is gently carved as if calm waves. He coated the base with traditional Urushi and completed this excellent work.
Next, the Gold Prize winner by Yoko Toda “A Bathtub or Bed for Baby” is a gently formed bathtub coated in vermillion which is baby’s favorite color. This work can be ornamental. Lastly, the Advanced Design Prize winner by Mikio Shina is a new proposal as a product. I think there is some possibility of softening the Urushi coated fabric itself by means of chemical treatment.

［コプリン］ Kopplin : I am not going to hold a long speech but just a few words of my impression from yesterday. It is the first time that I participated as a jury member in this meeting and it was a fascinating experience. Yesterday I saw very traditional items and I saw, on the other hand, experimental items. Some even were over artificial. Some, on the other hand, were sophisticated. Some were very simple and clear and others had playful character. It was very hard to find a good collection and as you heard we have had very lively, sometimes controversial discussion. But it had also good benefit of the argument of my colleagues. We all agreed with selecting the Grand Prize item so I do not repeat all the wonderful quality of the object, especially the spiritual. Instead, I would like to show you another item which I like if it is possible.



The Silver Prize Winner “Dream” by Young Sun Ra (Korea) was introduced to the audience on the slide.

I am sorry that you cannot see the original. Of course it is much more beautiful than the slide. It is a rather big basin. It is made of Rantai Shikki. I hope it is a good expression for it and then it is coated with black lacquer. It is a very simple but strong form. When I saw for the first time this work, I felt very good feeling with this object. It benefits from the water registrant quality of lacquer, so it intends to be used as a wash basin. But what I like very much is that if you do not use it, still you have a very beautiful, quiet and strong quality. This combination I like very much.
Of course, I judge from European point of view, somebody who loves lacquer art very much. So for me also from a European I felt I remember similar items we produced in lacquer.
In Russia, around 1700, Peter the Great ordered a wash basin to be coated with lacquer. And it was very fascinating to see 300 years later a very similar object of similar purpose. But it is very different aesthetic expression. I would be very curious to know the audience, opinions about our choice.

Kwon : This work is not made with the technique of Rantai Shikki. The material is cloth and strings.

Ohnishi : Each jury member made his and her comments. I am sure the audience would like to express themselves on the comments. So after some talks from the panel, I would like to promote discussion between the panel and the audience as Dr. Kopplin suggested.
Regarding the Silver Prize winner on the slide, as Dr. Kopplin mentioned, the form is very simple and flexible. She also mentioned “quiet and strong” which, I think, is one of the characteristics of Urushi itself. Her comment is truly signifi- cant.
Thank you for your stimulating comments. I would like to try not to forget the purpose of this exhibition as I mentioned at the beginning of the symposium. It is important to develop something toward the future, but we have to consider product development as well. Product development in the field of Urushi is also important but product development usually includes an immediate profit of the very near future. It is important to consider the possibility of Uruhsi both in the near future and in the long run in the three points; industry, lifestyle and art. So I hope this competition provides the opportunity where new stimulus will come out of Urushi art.

The Honorable Mention Winner, “RELIGIO REBOUND ON THE SOURCE” by Manfred Sdmid (Germany) was introduced to the audience on the slide.

This is from Germany. It is a big work whose diameter is more than 50 centimeters. It is very light. The technique is Kanshitsu with linen cloth and Urushi. The reason why I take up this work is that this expresses something different from ordinarily excellent works; relief, safety and dream although the technique is very simple as if people in the Jomon period made this. We take it for granted that “excellent“ means the work completed with perfect techniques, but we must break through this stereotype. Otherwise, we cannot go further. Imagine that Urushi has just been discovered, and you will be greatly moved and feel refreshed.
I think it significant for us to find primitive emotion out of Urushi such as gentleness and friendliness once again.

Koppin : I would like to add a few words. I know this artist very well. He is now 50 years old and he started to work with Japanese lacquer only 10 years ago when he was 40 years old, rather late. What I think very astonishing is that he makes also objects in entirely different style, Roiro Urushi of the utmost perfection. If you would have sensed the second item for this competition, you would never believe that the work is created by the same person. So what I appreciate very much is being able to work in entirely different style. Fantastic. He deeply understands spiritual quality of Urushi. I am happy that this work was selected.