Go East: ’Encounters’ is a startling survey of contemporary Japanese creativity

Katsu Hamanaka's work is displayed at the Dutko Gallery. In the middle of the room, there is a dark wood and black fabric sofa, with a privacy screen in dark brown with golden details to the left. An abstract painting in black & white is hung to the right.
Dutko Gallery’s London outpost presents ‘Encounters’ – an engaging and multi-faceted survey of Japanese art and design, from the 1930s until the present day
(Image credit: TBC)

On show at the Dutko Gallery’s London outpost, ‘Encounters’ is a deeply engaging and multi-faceted survey of Japanese art and design, from the 1930s until the present day.

The show’s lynchpin is the work of Katsu Hamanaka. A lacquerer and art deco maven, his reputation and accomplished practice are all the more astonishing for the minute size of his oeuvre. Emigrating to Paris in 1934, Hamanaka acted under the tutelage of master lacquerer Seizo Sugawara and created some of the finest – and rarest – work of the era. The three-panel gold leaf and black lacquered screen (c.1928) on show here is a salient example; elegant and aesthetically austere, it perfectly embodies the symbiotic relationship between contemporary Eastern and Western traditions. 'For me Hamanaka best represents the bridge between East and West, particularly during the short period of Art Deco,' explains Jean-Jacques Dutko. 'The sofa currently on display is an exceptional work, fully wrapped in shagreen. Here Hamanaka used different techniques, from polychrome to eggshell lacquer, creating a beautiful mosaic of stingray shagreen tinted with graphite lacquer.'

Hamanaka may be the show’s star billing, but there’s plenty else to pique interest. American Craft pioneer George Nakashima’s 1978 ‘R Bench’ is a picture of rustic simplicity (though, alas, not one seen clambered on by William Wegman’s boisterous Weimaraners in our October 2015 shoot); while the furniture offering takes a turn for the contemporary with Masayoshi Nakajo’s ‘The Cat’, 2015, its abstracted feline forms rendered in black laquerware – a modern expression of the traditional Kawatsura style, dating back to 1200.

As one might expect, ceramics and sculptural forms play a large part. Koike Shoko’s eldritch botanical pieces are imbued with a Triffids-style air of unease; Chieko Katsumata’s Akoda pumpkin is rather plumper, but equally discomforting. All are meticulously realised.

Haruhiko Kaneko, meanwhile, creates fluid-looking and bowls and vases inspired by the ocean (and is one of only a dozen extant practitioners to use the ancient Uteki Tenmoku ‘drop of oil’ technique). Sweeter still are Isao Sugiyama’s Santuario sculptures – tiny, superannuated buildings carved into slabs of marble.

The offering continues in fine fettle, with contributions including Hitomi Uchikura’s embossed paperwork, Kuigmachi Akira’s meditative, gradiated paintings and Takesada Matsutani’s monochrome masterpiece Two circles, from 2010, proving particularly alluring.

Aside from the sheer aesthetic eclecticism, the essential underlay to the Dutko show is the poeticism and visionary singularity of the works on display. Here in the West, the rich history and geographic cross-pollination of Japanese creative traditions are often pinned to anachronistic craft and minimalism. ‘Encounters’ explodes this reductive viewpoint. 'Staging the works of these incredible artists has been one of my favourite challenges,' says Dutko. 'Removing the sense of time and space, allowing the works to speak and create a dialogue - it’s part of the fun of being an art dealer.'

A golden privacy screen, with black geometrical detail.

The show’s lynchpin is the work of Katsu Hamanaka. A lacquerer and art deco maven, his reputation and accomplished practice are all the more astonishing for the minute size of his oeuvre. Pictured: Katsu Hamanaka’s three-panel gold leaf and black lacquered screen, c.1928

(Image credit: TBC)

A rustic wooden bench.

American Craft pioneer George Nakashima’s 1978 ‘R Bench’ is a picture of rustic simplicity

(Image credit: TBC)

A modern table with asymmetrical legs in black lacquerware.

The furniture offering takes a turn for the contemporary with Masayoshi Nakajo’s ‘The Cat’, 2015. Its abstracted feline forms are rendered in black laquerware – a modern expression of the traditional Kawatsura style, dating back to 1200

(Image credit: TBC)

Garden decorations. Decoration in off-white color stands on wooden logs.

Koike Shoko’s eldritch botanical pieces (pictured) are imbued with a Triffids-style air of unease

(Image credit: TBC)

Decoration in the shape of a red and gray pumpkin.

Chieko Katsumata’s Akoda pumpkin (pictured) is discomforting yet meticulously realised

(Image credit: TBC)

An ocean-inspired bowl in various shades of blue.

Haruhiko Kaneko creates fluid-looking and bowls and vases inspired by the ocean (and is one of only a dozen extant practitioners to use the ancient Uteki Tenmoku ‘drop of oil’ technique). Pictured: Les Fees de l’Ocean, by Haruhiko Kaneko, 2015

(Image credit: TBC)

A white marble sculpture represents a tiny house on the cliff.

Isao Sugiyama’s Santuario sculptures are tiny, superannuated buildings carved into slabs of marble. Pictured: Santuario No 325, by Isao Sugiyama, 2011

(Image credit: TBC)

Four pieces of embossed paperwork art are hung on the wall.

The offering continues in fine fettle, with contributions including Hitomi Uchikura’s embossed paperwork. Pictured: Lumière, by Hitomi Uchikura

(Image credit: TBC)

A graduated painting going from red on the top to black at the bottom.

Kuigmachi Akira’s meditative, gradiated paintings also impress. Pictured: Lightscape Colors (Red), by Kuigmachi Akira, 2016

(Image credit: TBC)

Abstract painting of two circles on a white background.

Takesada Matsutani’s monochrome masterpiece Two circles (pictured) from 2010, proves particularly alluring

(Image credit: TBC)

The photo to the left shows two sculptures on white stands. The photo to the right shows a closer look at the dark wood and black fabric sofa, with a black & golden privacy screen to the side.

Aside from the sheer aesthetic eclecticism, the essential underlay to the Dutko show is the poeticism and visionary singularity of the works on display

(Image credit: TBC)

INFORMATION

’Encounters: Japanese works of art from the 1930s to today’ is on view until 5 August. For more information, visit the Dutko Gallery’s website

ADDRESS

Dutko Gallery
18 Davies Street
London, W1K 3DS

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Tom Howells is a London-based food journalist and editor. He’s written for Vogue, Waitrose Food, the Financial Times, The Fence, World of Interiors, Time Out and The Guardian, among others. His new book, An Opinionated Guide to London Wine, will be published by Hoxton Mini Press later this year.