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Today, the Museum of Arts and Design opens its exhibition “Japanese Kogei | Future Forward.” Kogei, which loosely translates to “artisan crafts,” is often associated with traditional arts of the island nation’s history. But the 12 contemporary artists included in this show all incorporate a degree of untraditional personal expression into their work, including nods to Japan’s horror subculture and manga.
Likewise, a host of craftsmen and -women focusing on Japanese pottery today emphasize individuality in their creations. In these cases, global lives and interconnected cultures are so often at the root of these pottery pieces. Jen Kuroki’s minimalist vases capture Los Angeles, while Shino Takeda’s colorful wares are made in a New York state of mind. Here, we’ve selected some of our favorite ceramic pieces—from both the exhibition and the marketplace—that epitomize the changing face of kogei.
“Japanese Kogei | Future Forward” is organized by the Museum of Arts and Design and co-organized by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (Kanazawa Art Promotion and Development Foundation).