‘YAKHISHIME — Earth Metamorphosis’
Travelling Exhibition“Yakishime” (焼締) can literally be defined as the materials (clay or wood) would become tightly bound and molded together (i.e., vitrify) when being fired openly and it is derived from the verb called “Yakishimeru” （焼き締める）. Just as all the things in universe are composed with four basic elements (air, fire, earth and water), Japanese Yakishime earthen wares are the metamorphosis of earth when the earth element (soil) is combined with water element (water) to become the clay, later to be molded by fire element (when being fired) and finally cooled in the air (air element) to transform as the table wares, utensils and art works that we see today.

‘YAKHISHIME — Earth Metamorphosis’ travelling exhibition mainly focuses on a ceramic technique called ‘yakishime’, firing the earthen wares at high temperatures without glazing them. The earliest known yakishime wares date to the fourth or fifth centuries. It was in the twelfth through the seventeenth centuries, however, that this technique became solidly established and used in a substantial part of the production at major ceramic centers in Japan, including Bizen, Shigaraki, and Tokoname.

Since the history of mankind, earthen tablewares were an indispensable part of everyday life of people. When men had complete understanding about the natural resources in their environment and habitat, they started to create and utilize objects along with the development of material conditions of living standard. Tea pots and tea cups which are an essential part of material in Japanese tea culture called Sado (茶道)and the tea wares produced with Yakishime technique are just as the table wares that served with Japanese traditional cuisine called washoku (和食). Throughout the history, those daily earthen table wares, utensils, tea wares have slowly transformed their conventional utilization into detailed, contemporary art works (non-utilitarian objects).

In this exhibition, we will display various Yakishime objects and art works from traditional Yakishime wares with a concept of wabi-sabi (the art of imperfection) to modern, minimalistic and experimental Yakishime art works by contemporary Japanese ceramics artists.

Exhibition Details

Time: 9 am to 4 pm

Dates: from 12 to 29 July (closed on Monday and Tuesday)

Venue: The Japan Foundation, Yangon, No. 70, Nat Mauk Lane (1), Bahan township, Yangon