Image: Emiko Oki

Organised to coincide with Asian Art in London, the exhibition 'Collacqueration: Designed in the UK - Lacquered in Japan' will take place at the Embassy of Japan. This initiative brings together young UK-based designers and the lacquer craftsmen of Wajima, in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. The lacquer of Wajima has been designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property. It is made using original techniques consisting of at least 20 and sometimes more than 100 processes, which give it extra durability. 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.

Five UK-based designers - Julia Lohmann, Gero Grundmann, Max Lamb, Yuri Suzuki and Emiko Oki - are taking part alongside Yamaha. Their unconventional ideas, manifested in the work of five up-and-coming Wajima lacquerware artists - Takashi Wakamiya, Kazutaka Furukomi, Yoshinori Shibayama, Hidetaka Wakashima and Akira Sugimura - will be on display at the Embassy of Japan from 15 October 2010.

Combining the long and proud traditions of Wajima lacquer techniques with the artistic flare of the international designers, this collaboration seeks to extend the boundaries of the genre.

Throughout the period of the exhibition, we are planning to hold workshops in schools and museums across the UK. Moreover, while the exhibition is running, a British cellist will be performing an original score using a lacquerware cello designed specifically for this exhibition by Yamaha.

Emiko Oki