Contemporary Wood-Carved Netsuke Exhibition

Unique miniature Japanese art tradition to be presented by Consulate-General of Japan in Auckland and the Japan Foundation with cooperation of Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery.

“Contemporary Wood-Carved Netsuke”, a traveling exhibition is on display from Saturday 27 June to Sunday 2 August 2020 at Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery.

As kimono culture flourished during the Edo period in Japan (1603-1868), netsuke, small carvings, were created as toggles to secure the small personal items such as money pouches, inrō (medicine containers), or tobacco containers worn suspended on cords from the obi (a sash worn with kimono). What began as functional pieces to prevent those little containers from falling to the ground evolved into small but highly creative carvings. Today, classic netsuke have gained international acclaim as remarkably detailed carvings. In Japan, meanwhile, some netsuke enthusiasts and carvers have managed to keep the tradition alive.

"Contemporary Wood-Carved Netsuke" is an innovative contemporary crafts exhibition presenting 65 works by contemporary netsuke carvers and artists.