Blurring Boundaries

Nalata Nalata is pleased to present Blurring Boundaries, an exhibition of wooden tableware by Ryuji Mitani. This is the artisan’s first solo exhibition in the United States.

Much of the distinction between the applied and the design arts breaks down when looking at Ryuji Mitaniʼs collection. With the intention of creating pieces that seamlessly integrate into our everyday lives, he uses a combination of carving and lacquering to transform solid wood into functional items for the needs of modern day living.

Ryuji Mitaniʼs signature lies within his unique way of applying lacquer, otherwise known as urushi in Japanese. Multiple coats of black or white lacquer are applied, allowing them to fully dry overnight between each application. The resulting layers protect and seal without entirely covering the wood grain. His painter-like approach, his technique of under painting, over painting, and artful semi-transparent strokes gives each piece a unique personality.

“We prefer to be simple rather than special, to be genuine rather than pretentious. We believe in choosing form carefully to make our work meaningful, as if selecting one line from a rough sketch makes the line stronger. For us, being simple has power.” – Ryuji Mitani

The opening reception will be held on October 20th. Refreshments provided by Momofuku KO. Music provided by Paul Lewis.

Read a guest Journal entry written by Ryuji Mitani about the concept of Blurring Boundaries and preview the collection here.

Explore the artisan’s studio and home in Matsumoto here.

View a recap of the event here.