EXHIBITION OVERVIEW

Organized to commemorate the centennial of Hachioji’s municipality, this exhibition presents to the viewing public for the very first time 123 out of some 500 works of maki-e art—lacquerware decorated with designs using gold or silver powder—the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum has collected in recent years. Recognized worldwide for its distinctly Japanese artisanry, the intricate, kaleidoscopic aesthetic of maki-e can be appreciated at an even deeper level by using the art afficionado’s monocle. Use of this tool provides viewers of all ages, be they children or adults, with a unique new viewing experience, enabling them to delve into an exquisitely crafted world of gold lacquer and mother-of-pearl work veiled to the naked eye. This is Japanese art and craftsmanship at its finest, and we are delighted to share this opportunity with every museum-goer, casual or serious.