Crafts, and Then

Nalata Nalata is pleased to present Crafts, and Then, our fourth exhibition of works by Ryuji Mitani. This exhibition will take place at our temporary Annex gallery located at 24 2nd Ave, NY, New York. We are excited to highlight a wide range of the artisan’s works, including wooden tableware, and his rarely seen artworks such as paintings, stencils, and sculptures that further uncover his philosophies.

In the past few decades, Mitani has innovated at the front line of the Seikatsu Kogei movement and played a monumental role in its evolution. Through this collection, we invite you to catch a glimpse of how the artisan has continuously led the growth of a genre, and how his interpretation of the craft has changed to manifest into his current practice. In his words, “tableware and art may look different but they come from the same root.”

Mitani’s thoughtful approach is also evident in the new liquid glass nano coating technology that will be introduced for the first time at this exhibition in a range of tableware items, including a new iteration of our collaborative Ice Cream Cup. The innovative finish ensures durability against both hot and cold foods, simplifying cleaning and maintenance and invites a wide range of culinary experiences to the dining table.

The exhibition is also accompanied by a concept book filled with passages penned by and photos captured by Mitani himself. You may follow along with the works and learn about their background through the reflections in his book that we have published online in English and Japanese. Signed copies of the Japanese book will be available in limited quantities.

We will be joined by Ryuji Mitani himself who will travel to North America for the first time since the pandemic. It is a true honor to have him in attendance and we hope you will join us as we welcome him back after a period of much change.

An Opening Reception will be held on Saturday, September 30. Ryuji Mitani in attendance. Refreshments provided by Ayako Kurokawa of Burrow. Drinks by Soto Sake. 

Read the exhibition Opening Remarks here.

View a recap of the exhibition here.