Tamotsu Nishimoto, Teppachi Morikago, 2020, bamboo and lacquer [Photo/Courtesy of Crafts on Peel]
If you haven't yet had the chance to visit Crafts on Peel's first thematic exhibition, you should definitely make time for Imagine the 'Im'possibilities: Bamboo before the end of the year. The show consists of impressive work by ten artisans from Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong whospecialise in reinventing the traditions ofbamboo craft.
Curated by Penelope Luk, the creative director of Crafts on Peel, and Benjamin Wang, an artisan from Taiwan, the exhibition delivers an interactive journey that explores the utilitarian elements, contemporary aesthetics and traditional craftsmanship of bamboo. Each section also addresses the various processes and historical context that have shaped our engagement with the material over thousands of years.
Benjamin Wang, Tea Leaf Storage Basket (Tight-Plaited), 2019, bamboo [Photo/Courtesy of Crafts on Peel]
"Embodying a spirit of purity and infinite creative possibility, bamboo is a material with an elaborate living culture across Asia that transcends countries, cultures and history," says Wang. "The artisans presented at Crafts on Peel articulate a unique exchange of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary aesthetics that immerse the viewer in the infinite possibilities and creativity of bamboo."
Surprises lie in store, such as discovering how lifestyles and values developed during China's Song Dynasty elevated bambooware from a rustic item to a crafted object of aesthetic value. Japanese contemporary artisan Tamotsu Nishimoto's Teppachi Morikago and Takezaiku Basket focus on "achieving beauty in life at the moment of usage" and combining art with functionality, echoing the sentimentsespoused by 1920s Japanese philosopher Yanagi Soetsu, who believed the aestheticvalue of craft lay in its practicality. Bamboo has a long history in Japan, where excavations have uncovered bamboo baskets dating to the Late Jomon period (circa 2000–1000 BCE).
Chen Yung-sheng, The Dawn of Life – Tangle, 2019, bamboo and lacquer [Photo/Courtesy of Crafts on Peel]
"This exhibition is the result of extensive research trips and studies that continue Crafts on Peel's exploration of Hong Kong's traditional bamboo craftsmanship, and which reinterpret the connections between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary lifestyle," explains Luk. "We are glad to continue to provide a platform for collaborations not only across generations, but also across regions and cultures."
Crafts on Peel is located at 11 Peel Street in Central. (Until December 31, 2020)
Chen Yung-sheng, Twill Weave Wave Pattern, 2020, bamboo [Photo/Courtesy of Crafts on Peel]
Ting For-chun, Hexagonal Chrysanthemum Pattern Coaster, 2020, bamboo [Photo/Courtesy of Crafts on Peel]
Crafts on Peel's creative director, Penelope Luk [Photo/Courtesy of Crafts on Peel]
Benjamin Wang [Photo/Courtesy of Crafts on Peel]
Tamotsu Nishimoto [Photo/Courtesy of Crafts on Peel]
