Japanese Ceramics ‘YAKISHIME’ travelling exhibition makes its way to Iloilo for its final stop in the Philippines

ILOILO – The Japan Foundation’s travelling exhibition “YAKISHIME – Earth Metamorphosis” will have the next and final stop of its Philippine tour in Iloilo at the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA) and will be on show from 17 August to 4 September 2024.

Yakishime refers to a unique Japanese ceramics technique known for its unglazed, high-fired wares, celebrated for their natural aesthetics.

“This exhibition introduces yakishime ceramics, which developed distinctively in Japan as part of its traditional culture,” says exhibition curator Mieko Iwai. “It explores the history of yakishime from its origins to the present, its use in tea wares, utensils for serving food, and its emergence as objets d’art. It will offer visitors from other cultures, unfamiliar with these simple yet profoundly tasteful ceramics, an excellent opportunity to experience a sensibility and aesthetic unique to Japan.”

Touring the world since 2016, the exhibition features objects that span the chronicles of yakishime. Prominently showcased in the exhibition are utilitarian earthenware, the earliest being from the pre-feudal Heian period (794–1185), as well as tea wares from the Momoyama period (1574–1600). Also highlighted are yakishime as contemporary forms of art, including works from noted Japanese ceramicists Takashi Ikura, Kyoko Tokumaru, and Makiko Hattori.

“We are excited to bring these cultural treasures from Japan to a Filipino audience,” says Ben Suzuki, Director of The Japan Foundation, Manila. “This aspect of Japanese culture may not be familiar to many people, so we hope that experiencing yakishime will reveal another side of Japan that people can truly appreciate.”

The Philippine run of the exhibition started at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, BGC which ran until the end of July.

This exhibition is supported by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines Admission to the exhibition’s run at the ILOMOCA is free. For more information on the exhibition, please visit the Japan Foundation, Manila official website (www.jfmo.org.ph) and their social media platforms.