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TOP -> 2016/6/24 Where have all the months gone? (campai)

Unfinished finished product

Where have all the months gone? (campai)
  
[Ordering term] From June 24th (Fri) 2016 0:00 to July 31st (Sun) 2016 23:59
We interviewed Mr. åbäke who createdWhere have all the months gone? (campai)
――Please tell us about the story for fabricating a "Sake vessel".

Where Have All The Months Gone? (Campai) åbäke 2014

My name is Kwai Chang Caine, I am a Shaolin master traveling through the American old West,
looking for my half-brother Danny Caine.
I am not aware that I am the main character of a TV series which ran from 1972 to 1975.
In my quest I would try to avoid being noticed but because of my training and sense of social responsibility I would repeatedly be forced out into the open,
to fight for justice or protect the underdog. My name is Fox Mulder,
I am an FBI agent investigating X-Files — marginalised, unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena —
looking for my sister Samantha who I believe was abducted by Aliens.
I am not aware that I am one of the main characters of a TV series which ran from 1993 to 2002.
In my quest, I would repeatedly be forced to solve paranormal mysteries totally unrelated to the disappearance of my sister.
Our friend Ryan often makes fun of what he calls residency surfers, people whose practice, to his opinion, are distracted by so-called contextual projects.
He has a point but if Caine or Mulder had found their siblings immediately, the mythology of the respective stories wouldn't be complex and at times misled.
It is in one such residency in Wajima, a town separately famed for its lacquerware and fishing industry that we met the Urushi crafts(wo)men.
The six thousand-year old tradition has been perfected a long time ago,
a painstaking covering of wood in the poisonous sap of a specific tree in layers that take months to dry.
No less than seven hyper specialised craftsmen work one after the other into the slowest fordist dichotomy the industrialisation forgot.
Eight or more if you include the user who does need some understanding that dishwashers did not exist when Urushi was developed.
Here, the factory retained the shape of a village, no bricks or cliché high chimneys because this warehouse only produces dozens, never millions.
The structure is perhaps closer to Fourier's phalanstère, as on top of the hierarchy sits the Nushiya-san,
the protector of his or her family of craftsmen who will exclusively work through commissions coming from him/her,
it is still difficult to address the craftsmen directly. The techniques are perfect but they are facing fierce competition.
The bowl of rice in Wajima Urushi is exactly 100 times more expensive than its equivalent in plastic.
The point, however, is elsewhere. As one hand polisher told us,
he is the only ones on a golf course wearing two gloves to protect his fingerprint-less fingers. THAT, is of interest. Meanwhile,
I am a cowboy turned gold digger in California. I didn't have a bath for weeks and have not found gold in the seven months I arrived here. I enter a bar and order a drink.
It is the late XIXth century and I have heard of stories of rich people in Europe eating oysters.
There are sea snots in millions, here, in the bays. I hail the bartender and order oysters dipped in a full glass of crap whiskey.
Back to Wajima where it is obvious that you are either a fisherman or a craftsman. Different class,
different area of the town. They wouldn't meet for a drink or socialise.
However, you can meet the product of their respective labour on a plate of the most exquisite seasonal fish on the delicate lacquerware.
Lucky we are also on the Japan sea, on the other side of Fukushima. I am in one of the most hidden bars in London today.
I am drinking one of the best whiskey in the world which happens to be Japanese with a British born oyster,
in a wooden cup. An "objet" in French but said by a Japanese is not exactly an artwork. Whatever its origins,
the word was used in our presence in Wajima to try and define something without any function, maybe a folly.
The extravagant Urushi decoration pieces of the 80s are it. A disturbing display of wealth,
exemplified by a whole bathroom with oval entrance we visited as a testimony of the arrogance of
a period in recent Japanese history when average salarymen spent all their weekends skiing to be able to spend their unlimited wealth.
After a while, all we could think of, all our new ideas were using Urushi, was coated in natural varnish, was made with our new friends.
It was time to move on. åbäke 2014 The seven stages of the Urushi production and the individuals involved are as follows:

1/ Nushiya: Shinichi Shioyasu / 塗師屋: 塩安眞
2/ Kiji (wood carving): Masatoshi Kakichi / 木地: 垣地政利
3/ Shitaji ( under coat) : Masahiko Sakamoto / 下地: 坂本雅彦
4/ Nakanuri (middle coat ): Satoshi Tanaka / 中塗り: 田中聡
5/ Uwanuri (top coat): Akira Kosaka / 上塗り: 小坂朗
6/ Togi (polishing): Katsumi Hida / 研ぎ: 比田かつみ
7/ Makie (gold decoration): Minoru Ohashi / 蒔絵: 大端稔
The cups were produced with Emiko Oki.

――Why did you decide to stay in Wajima?
How was staying in Wajima for 3 weeks?

Emiko Oki invited us to do a residency there.
Tp stay there was more than fantastic,

――You are not only designing Graphic but do different activity, such as music and food esc… Are there something in common?
If so, could you tell me what it is ( or they are )?

They are exactly the same for us. A meal, a song, a graphic design.

――Did you have particular about the detail or idea about the sake cup?
Could you tell me your thought when you saw the finished sake cup for the first time?

We were amazed by how it does tel the story of urushi, just like we wished, by itself.

――This is for me… they asked me if there is more work with me. I will answer in Japanese.
But you can answer if you would like to mention about something too!

We wish for more. A big dream is to go back to Wajima, and work more on the subject of the town and its people.

――Could you tell me your current and future projects.
And give us a message if you have!

We just co-curated the Albanian architecture biennales pavilion ( https://www.albanianpavilion.com/2016/en ),
took part in the british art show( https://britishartshow8.com/artists/abake-na-1543) and published many new exiting projects under Dent-de-leone,
our own publishing house ( www.dentdeleone.co.nz)

Åbäke

Åbäke is a collective of four graphic designers formed in London.
Much of their work concentrates on the social aspect of design and they work in beyond the realm of graphic design.
Their project often involve film, dancing, eating and cooking.
They also work independently.
This is a collaboration project by Kajsa Stahl (born in Sweden) and Maki Suzuki (raised in France).
They spent three weeks in Wajima in November 2013.

https://abake.fr