PRESS RELEASE29 October 2013
Revealing the Japanese soul through lacquer
In celebration of the Japan – Vietnam Friendship Year 2013,the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam proudly presentsa lacquer painting exhibition “Japan In Me”by Saeko Ando in Hanoi.
Son Mai lacquer painting is a truly unique and original art form that is shared with the rest of the world by its Vietnamese creators. Saeko Ando, an artist from Japan -a country with a long and established lacquer tradition - has lived in Hanoi and pursued her passion as a Son Mai artist for 18 years and has mastered the art here in Vietnam.
Saeko’s works depict aspects of life in the natural world that people usually fail to notice. Her command of Son Mai techniques, use of rich colours and bold compositions, and creation of elaborate textures, enable her to transform these into enchanting characters each with their own stories.
She creates the illusion of texture using colours and materialsthat are built up in complex layers until they look almost three-dimensional. This layering suggests that traditional Son Mai paintings are impossible to sand to a flat finish, yet Saeko’s paintings are astonishingly flat. This is just one way in which she challenges established theory about Vietnamese lacquer work.
Saeko has a mission: to introduce the fascinating art of Son Mai to the world through her exhibitions, lectures, and the symposia she attends.Because of her devotion tothe Son Mai craft and her profound understanding of Vietnamese culture, she has often appeared in magazines and on television in Japan and Vietnam. She is the first foreign member accepted by Hanoi Art Association and her “Vietnameseness” has always caught people’s attention.
At this exhibition – Japan in Me– Saeko will offer a new insight into herself, proudly presenting, through her work, her Japanese side. For the first time, her “Japaneseness”, its philosophy and aesthetic, comes under the spotlight. Although the materials and techniques Saeko uses are almost all Vietnamese, art critics and fellow artists agree that Saeko’sJapanese Soul exudes from her work. Along with her art, the exhibition will offera series of short essays Saeko has writtento explain the secrets of her works.
The exhibition is free admission and held at the Japan Foundation (27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi). Its opening starts at 10:00 on Saturday 9 November with the artist’s talk and runs until Sunday 1 December 2013. Free admission.
For inquiries on the exhibition and interview with the artist, please contact at:
Ms. Da Huong or Ms. Nha(04-3944-7419 ext: 113 or 115) / Mr. Yoshioka (0123-384-4138)
The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam
27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi, Vietnam TEL 04-3944-7419
SAEKO ANDO “JAPAN IN ME”
Revealing the Japanese soul through lacquer
Duration:Saturday 9 November – Sunday 1December2013
Venue:The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam
27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
[Opening hours 09:00 – 18:00, no closed days]
TEL 04 3944 7419
Opening:10:00 – Saturday 9 November 2013
Including:
-A congratulatory speech
By Mr. Hideo Suzuki (Minister, Embassy of Japan in Vietnam)
-An artist talk by Saeko Ando
-Free coffee served by KOK Coffee
*Everyone can attend the opening.
Saeko ANDO
Born in 1968 in Aichi Prefecture, Japan
Currently lives and works in Hanoi, Vietnam
B.A. in Philosophy (1992)
Department of Philosophy, School of Literature
Waseda University
After having studied Eastern (Oriental) philosophy and Japanese Arts at Waseda University in Japan, Saeko entered Japan Airlines as a flight attendant. During her employment, Saeko flew to all corners of the world and was stimulated and inspired by the wide range of arts she encountered. Determined to pursue her love of the arts and become an artist Saeko resigned from her position with JAL in 1994.
The following year Saeko moved to Vietnam and studied contemporary Vietnamese lacquer painting under the tutelage of artist Trinh Tuan, followed by further studies under Vietnamese lacquer master Doan Chi Trung where Saeko learnt the many intricate techniques associated with Vietnamese lacquer painting and traditional craftsmanship such as refining lacquer, production of the basement canvas, sanding and polishing lacquer by hand.
In 2000, Saeko’s devotion to her art was recognized as she was given the honor of being accepted as the first foreign member of the Hanoi Art Association.
As a lacquer painter, Saeko has been actively creating artworks and exhibiting them both within Vietnam and overseas. She also works as a researcher on lacquer art in Asian countries including Japan and Vietnam, and shares her research achievements with the public through various lectures, conventions and symposia.
Related events
Date:Sunday 17 November 2013
Venue:The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam
14：00 - 14：40
A lecture on “Japanese Lacquer Arts & Crafts: Its current status and artistry”
By Ms. Fumie Sasai (Japanese lacquer artist)
Japanese lacquer arts & crafts can be split into two distinct categories; handicrafts mainly made by artisans, and artworks mainly created by artists. Such handicrafts and artworks in contemporary Japan, along with the history of Japanese lacquer as well as its methods and techniques, will be explained. Concepts/messages in each work by each artist are effected as “expressions” resulting in the emergence of artistic value within the work, and it is this value which differentiates artworks from handicrafts. The meaning of artistry in arts & crafts will also be explored.
14：50 - 15：30
A talk on “JAPAN IN ME - Japan coming into sight through lacquer art”
By Ms. Saeko Ando & Ms. Fumie Sasai
Throughout history Japan and Vietnam have developed their own individual styles and techniques of lacquer as an established artistic medium. How is lacquer art from Japan, which developed in quite a different direction format from Vietnam’s, reflected in the eyes of the Vietnamese people? Despite using Vietnamese materials and techniques, Japanese sensitivity exudes from Saeko’s lacquer paintings. The secret, which Saeko will explain through her exhibition “JAPAN IN ME”, may provide a further hint to identify the individual characteristicsof both Japanese and Vietnamese lacquer art. Fumie, who is active in the Japanese lacquer art scene, and Saeko, who is a lacquer painter as well as a researcher on lacquer art, will talk on the issue inviting the audience to think together.
15：30 - 16：30
A tea party – Enjoying the tea ceremony with original teacups by ceramic artists participating in the exhibition “Art of KOGEI, Spirit of KYOTO – 2013”
Presented by CHIKUYO Tea Ceremony Club (School of Yabuuchi）
- All related events will be delivered in Japanese with Vietnamese interpretation.
- All related events are also free admission, no registration is required.
Fumie SASAI│Japanese lacquer artist
Works and lives in Kyoto, Japan
Born in Osaka in 1973. In 1998, earned M.A. in lacquer art at graduate school, Kyoto City University of Arts. In 2003 - 05, studied at Chiang Mai University in Thailand. The participating artist in the exhibition “Art of KOGEI, Spirit of KYOTO – 2013” (11 – 23 November 2013/Vietnam Fine Arts Museum). Currently works as a lecturer at Kyoto City University of Arts.
Event held at the same time
A lacquer painting of a seated statue of the thousand armed and eyed Kannon in But Thap temple, which was created jointly by 55 Hanoi residents, will be exhibited from Sunday 17 November 2013 at the Japan Foundation, produced and presented by UZU Gallery.
■ Selected Artworks
Remarks:
For the usage of the following images for your media, please contact the staffs in charge above. We will provide a bigger size of each image upon your request.
If I was an octopus…(3)
15.0 x 60.0 (cm), lacquer on wood, 2013
Mirror mirror…
43.0 x 80.0 (cm) (x 2 pieces), lacquer on wood, 2013
UFO–Unidentified Floating Object–Danu
15.0 X 20.0 (cm), lacquer on wood, 201260.0 x 60.0 (cm), lacquer on wood, 2000