Craft x Tech Tokai Project

Founded by designer and engineer Dr Hideki Yoshimoto of design studio Tangent, with curatorial direction by Italian independent curator Maria Cristina Didero, Craft x Tech pairs international designers and artists with local Japanese craftspeople from the Tokai region to produce new creative works. The project explores how Japanese craft, specialising in lacquer, metal, woodworking, ceramics, washi paper and textiles, can be reimagined through a thoughtful dialogue between traditional techniques and contemporary practices. Craft x Tech Tokai Project reinterprets the regions’ centuries-old traditions to create a collection of contemporary works that celebrate the enduring relevance of traditional craftsmanship. The initiative brings together creatives from six artisan regions, with each artisan collaborating with internationally acclaimed designers. Together, they explore new creative possibilities, resulting in innovative art pieces that aim to redefine the future of traditional crafts. The six new pieces which will be on display in The Daylit Gallery at the V&A museum will be Fushi, a console and lighting piece created by Yohei Ito and Australian industrial designer David Caon; Grid Unwoven a collaboration between Takanori Senda and design studio Lanzavecchia + Wai; Kataginu bringing Hiroyuki Murase with acclaimed British designer Bethan Laura Wood; Kasane, the work of Shigeyuki Ando with British-Canadian designer Philippe Malouin; Chair in Japanese Nuki, The Everyday at the Atelier by Japanese contemporary artist Eugene Kangawa with Mayuki Kato; and Yamollo by South African designer Atang Tshikare with artisan Tomoyuki Matsuda.