Japanese Functional Objects: Technology, Aesthetics, and the History of Craft in Japan

[Ariel Stilerman]

Dear Members—

 

If you find yourself in the Bay Area before the end of the month I would like to invite you to the exhibition Japanese Functional Objects at the Stanford East Asia Library.

 

This exhibit revolves around premodern ceramic and wood crafts, and stems from a recently completed course co-taught by EALC and Mechanical Engineering. You can find information on the course here.

 

On display are traditional Japanese woodworking tools, as well as ensembles of hand-built ceramic flower vessels and hand-joined wood platforms made by the students. Ikebana master Momoyo Lowdermilk has augmented the installations with flower arrangements.

 

The course was designed to help students explore the material affordances of clay, grapple with the demanding technical heritage embodied by traditional Japanese hand tools for woodworking, and reflect upon how that knowledge can deepen their appreciation for craft, traditional aesthetics, and premodern technology.

 

The course and exhibition were inspired in great part by this wonderful institution: Takenaka Museum

 

Japanese Functional Objects was made possible by the Product Realization Lab, Center for East Asian Studies, Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures, East Asia Library, and a generous gift from the Halpern Family Foundation.

 

Yours,

 

—Ariel