The inaugural Craft x Tech initiative made its debut in Tokyo this week, before making its international stop at Design Miami Basel from June 11-16, 2024. The event showcased a fusion of Japan’s traditional crafts heritage with progressive technology, aiming to preserve and promote endangered artisan techniques in modern times.
The project involved pairing six international creators with six regional artisan traditions from Tohoku, a region profoundly affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. These collaborations resulted in six limited edition artworks, crafted in traditional materials like textiles, ceramics, woodwork, and lacquerware, infused with contemporary touches such as minimalist lines, AI technology, and music speakers. The exhibition took place at the atmospheric century-old Kudan House in Tokyo, before moving to Design Miami Basel.
The brainchild behind Craft x Tech is Hideki Yoshimoto, founder of design studio Tangent, who aimed to bring Japan’s traditional crafts to a new, contemporary audience. The goal was to celebrate the beauty and power of these crafts in the highest quality work, resonating beyond everyday products, and not just as items sold in a shop.
One of the key challenges in this initiative was to restore traditional crafts to relevance in the art market, as well as to introduce sustainable business opportunities to local craftspeople. The project garnered attention from creators such as Studio Swine and Sabine Marcelis, who reimagined traditional Sendai Tansu and Kawatsura shikki lacquerware techniques into modern, minimalist artworks that honour and innovate the centuries-old craft traditions.
The collaborative process wasn’t without its hurdles, especially for artisans who had never before met a non-Japanese person. Despite this, they agreed that new ideas and challenges would be essential to keep their traditions alive and thriving in the hands of future generations.
As Craft x Tech continues its journey, Hideki Yoshimoto aspires to expand the initiative to different areas of Japan, promoting Japanese craftsmanship and heritage on a global stage. These new collaborations are just the beginning of a long-term project that seeks to maintain the legacy and relevance of traditional crafts, making Craft x Tech a milestone in the celebration of Japan’s artisanship in the modern age.
The inaugural edition of Craft x Tech successfully showcased the harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, shedding light on the potential to ensure the vitality and continued growth of Japan’s rich craft heritage. As the project sets its sights on a long-term commitment to promoting traditional crafts across Japan, it has undoubtedly set a new standard for the preservation and global appreciation of Japanese artisan techniques.