Meaningful artworks by 12 Japanese National Living Treasures are showcased in an evocative exhibition

In 12 Stone Garden visitors will have the unique chance to see a stunning selection of objects
handcrafted by 12 Japanese National Living Treasures

Bamboo flower basket “Spring Tide” handcrafted by Japanese National Living Treasure Noburu Fujinuma
©Gerald Le Van-Chau

The exhibition presents masterpieces by 12 Japanese National Living Treasures, the exceptional artisans who have been designated by Japan’s cultural ministry as “Preservers of Important Intangible Cultural Properties”
The objects are displayed in the magnificent Palladian Refectory on 12 stone-shaped blocks designed by Naoto Fukasawa
Selected by Naoto Fukasawa and Tokugo Uchida, the exquisite works include kimonos, an urushi lacquered harp, a bamboo flower basket, Bizen ceramics and intarsia wooden boxes

This April at Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice, an exhibition celebrates masterpieces by 12 Japanese National Living Treasures. 12 Stone Garden, envisioned by Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa, displays deeply meaningful objects in the 16th century Palladian Refectory. A fitting tribute to the rich cultural heritage of fine craftsmanship safeguarded by Japan, guest of honour for Homo Faber Event 2022.

The exquisite works by the 12 National Living Treasures, selected by Naoto Fukasawa and renowned Japanese museum director Tokugo Uchida, reflect a wide variety of traditional Japanese crafts and diverse materials and techniques. Visitors will be able to get a close-up view of kimonos, an urushi lacquered harp, a bamboo flower basket, Bizen ceramics and intarsia wooden boxes, among other objects. Behind-the-scenes videos provide a window into the secret processes used to handcraft each object. In an adjacent exhibition, photographs by Rinko Kawauchi show the 12 National Living Treasures at work in their ateliers.

Naoto Fukasawa seeks to bring a unique perspective to the room, aiming to surprise visitors with its scale, with the contrast between the imposing interior of the room and the 12 blocks, and through his subtle use of lighting. Fukasawa imagines a space that is on the one hand dynamic and on the other hand a harmonising experience for visitors. On closer inspection, visitors will be able to observe the details of the artworks and learn about the age-old traditional processes used to create them; the skills, techniques and savoir-faire that render each object meaningful, infused with “makoto” (crafted with sincerity).

“The mind of a craftsman has to take some responsibility to make sure the history or traditional skill is continued for the future, not just focusing on creating the objects.” – Naoto Fukasawa

Silver flower vessel “Turquoise Ocean” handcrafted by Japanese National Living Treasure Yukie Osumi
©Japan Kôgei Association

The 12 National Living Treasures whose objects are on display:

Imaemon Imaizumi XIV, master of the traditional technique of overglazing in making ceramics, and the 14th successor in the family that served Lord Nabeshima as officially appointed potter.

Zenzo Fukushima makes Koishiwara-ware, celadon based on traditional ceramic-making techniques and materials from the 17th century.

Kunihiko Moriguchi, a textile dyer adept at geometric designs using natural motifs such as flowers, snow and streams, in Kyoto’s yuzen textile-dyeing tradition.

Sonoko Sasaki dyes tsumugi-type silk yarn in colours derived from grasses and leaves using the tsumugi-ori weaving technique. She has been awarded Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.

Kazumi Murose makes urushi lacquerware using the technique of maki-e, which dates to the 8th century, to create highly refined modern designs.

Isao Onishi undertakes the whole process of cabinetmaking himself, from moulding cypress wood to finishing the lacquer. His work has a powerful and assertive presence. His designation as a National Living Treasure is for the lacquering technique known as kyushitsu.

Yukie Osumi, a master of metal forging, uses silver sheet metal and mallets to create her work, which is characterised by modern design and gold/lead inlay. Her designation as a National Living Treasure is for tankin (metalwork).

Noboru Fujinuma weaves or braids fine sticks of bamboo into fine baskets and other objects. His designation is for bamboo craftwork, which was passed down from the 8th century Chinese Tang culture.

Komao Hayashi employs a style of making toso (paulownia paste) dolls that dates to the 17th century. His work is informed by knowledge of the Noh theatre and other long-established performing arts such as kyogen, kabuki and Kyoto-style dance. He was awarded Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.

Jun Isezaki is one of the most renowned master artisans of Bizen ceramics, a traditional craft that emerged over a thousand years ago in the Bizen district.

Takeshi Kitamura is a textile artist who employs ancient weaving techniques, recreating traditional methods in Nishijin, the historical home of textiles in the Kyoto region of Japan.

Kenji Suda is a woodwork artist and cabinetmaker who uses a traditional technique called sashimono to create intricate intarsia wooden boxes, using Japanese lacquer or urushi.

Who are the National Living Treasures?

Craftsmanship has been deeply rooted in the Japanese culture since the beginning of its artistic history. To safeguard this cultural heritage the Japanese government has been appointing National Living Treasures since 1950. National Living Treasures are exceptional master artisans who, with their time-honoured techniques, ensure the preservation of traditional Japanese intangible heritage. The cultural system aims to preserve time-honoured knowledge and ensure it is passed on to future generations. Those who have been designated National Living Treasures are expected to comply with a strict set of requirements.

12 Stone Garden is set in the Palladian Refectory at Fondazione Giorgio Cini. It is one of 15 exhibitions that comprise Homo Faber Event 2022, organised by the Michelangelo Foundation.

Special thanks to the Japan Kôgei Association for collaborating on the exhibition 12 Stone Garden.

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Homo Faber Event

Crafting a more human future

Fondazione Giorgio Cini, San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice

Organised by the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship, the Homo Faber Event is an international exhibition that champions artisanal talent, showcasing an impressive variety of materials, techniques and skills through live demonstrations, immersive digital experiences and imaginative displays of handcrafted creations. From functional everyday objects to outstanding decorative pieces, this edition highlights craft’s role in creating a more sustainable and inclusive future. The event offers a rare chance to admire the prestigious work of a selection of Japan’s National Living Treasures and to experience craft and its connections to the arts and to the design world. Visitors can join guided tours of the 15 exhibition spaces led by passionate students participating in the Young Ambassadors Programme. Imagined by a team of world-renowned curators and designers, the scenographic event transforms the magnificent spaces of the Fondazione Giorgio Cini, located on San Giorgio Maggiore island in the heart of the Venetian lagoon. On top of the event, the Homo Faber in Città project gives visitors a chance to experience craftsmanship across Venice through tailor-made itineraries. homofaber.com

The Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship is a non-profit institution based in Geneva, Switzerland, which champions contemporary craftspeople worldwide with the aim of promoting a more human, inclusive and sustainable future. The Foundation seeks to highlight the connections between craft, the wider arts and the design world. Its mission is to both celebrate and preserve craftsmanship and its diversity of makers, materials and techniques, by increasing craft’s everyday recognition and its viability as a professional path for the next generations. From engaging educational programmes such as the Summer Schools, to its signature digital project the Homo Faber Guide and the international exhibition Homo Faber Event, the Foundation is fostering a cultural movement centred on master artisans and rising stars. michelangelofoundation.org

Naoto Fukasawa

A Japanese designer, professor and curator who has brought his unique design philosophy to leading brands around the world. Naoto Fukasawa works with major international manufacturers across different design disciplines from precision electronic equipment to furniture, interior spaces and architecture. What links his work is a dedication to the sublime beauty of form and the power of silence, a design philosophy that has garnered him international recognition for his ability to express the true essence of an object. Additionally, he is the director of The Japan Folk Crafts Museum, a professor at the Tama Art University and has sat on several judging panels including the Loewe Craft Prize. In 2007, he was named Honorary Royal Designer for Industry by the UK’s Royal Society of Arts. He has won numerous awards for his work including the 2018 Isamu Noguchi Award.

Tokugo Uchida

Director of the MOA Museum of Art and Hakone Museum of Art, Tokugo Uchida is one of Japan’s foremost cultural commentators. Tokugo Uchida completed his PhD in aesthetics at Keio University in 2007 and has since lectured widely in Japan and abroad. He served as a member of the Cultural Council, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; committee member for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and Guest Professor at Kyushu University. He is involved in the selection for art-related awards, holds important roles in governmental organisations for traditional crafts as an art history specialist and has authored numerous publications.

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