Spiraled IV, 2011, Matsushima Sakurako, born 1965, Lacquer on bamboo, Gift of Elizabeth and Willard Clark in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts © Matsushima Sakurako

Exploring Asian Culture through Urushi Lacquer Arts

Natural lacquer—urushi in Japanese—is the sap of several species of trees native to East and Southeast Asia. In early Japan, craftspeople who recognized its durability and lustrous allure began using it to coat wood, pottery, baskets, and other objects. Today, contemporary artists are increasingly working with urushi in their paintings, art objects, and jewelry. Matsushima Sakurako will give an illustrated talk on the history and current state of urushi arts in Japan and in the rest of Asia. She will then demonstrate a simple coating and decorative technique using raw urushi.

Matsushima Sakurako is a professor at Utsunomiya University in Tochigi Prefecture, and director of the Asian Lacquer Craft Exchange Project, She has exhibited her works worldwide since 1989.

Generous support provided by Gale Family Endowment.

$10; $5 My Mia members, free for Asian Art Affinity Group members. Click here for tickets.

_{Spiraled IV, 2011, Matsushima Sakurako, born 1965, Lacquer on bamboo, Gift of Elizabeth and Willard Clark in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts © Matsushima Sakurako}