Homebuildlife: HBL Events: Collacqueration: Designed in the UK

Lacquered Mugs by Max Lamb and Akira Sugimura. Photo by Daniel Katz

The exhibition Collacqueration: Designed in the UK - Lacquered in Japan aims to highlight the ancient Japanese tradition of lacquering by bringing together the imagination of young UK based designers and the traditional skills of the lacquer craftsmen of Wajima.

Lacquered Wood Stool by Max Lamb and Hidetaka Wakashima. Photo by Daniel Katz

Five UK-based designers - Julia Lohmann, Gero Grundmann, Max Lamb, Yuri Suzuki and Emiko Oki, have taken part alongside Japanese brand Yamaha. Their unconventional ideas have been fused together with those of five up-and-coming Wajima lacquerware artists: Takashi Wakamiya, Kazutaka Furukomi, Yoshinori Shibayama, Hidetaka Wakashima and Akira Sugimura. The designers and craftsmen met in Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan to create a series of innovative, collaborative designs. The resulting works are currently on display at the Embassy of Japan until the end of the week.

Kombu-Dwellings by Julia Lohmann & Gero Grundmann and Kazutaka Furukomi. Photo by Daniel Katz

Just as ceramic works may be called 'china' in English, the technique of lacquering in Britain was historically known as 'japanning'. Wajima lacquer is made using original techniques consisting of at least 20 and sometimes more than 100 processes. Prepared from the toxic sap of the lacquer tree (Urushi; Toxicodendron Verniciflua), lacquer is one of the most durable natural adhesives. Examples of lacquering in Japan can be traced back to the Jomon period (1000 - c300 BC). Its application is used to increase the utilty of materials such as wood and bamboo, textiles and paper as well as interior surfaces.

Silent Cello by Yamaha, Takashi Wakamiya (Lacquering) and Kazutaka Furukomi (Chinkin). Photo by Daniel Katz

Wajima lacquer is also known for its highly decorative features, such as Makie, whereby metal or coloured powder is sprinkled on the lacquer, and Chinkin, which involves scoring a pattern of lines on the lacquer and then rubbing gold powder into these lines.

Lacquered Wood Stool by Max Lamb and Hidetaka Wakashima. Photo by Emiko Oki

Collacqueration: Designed in the UK - Lacquered in Japan
15 October - 30 November 2010
The Embassy of Japan
101-104 Piccadilly, London W1J 7JT
www.collacqueration.com