A messenger to revive Japanese spirituality

What stands out about lacquer artist Wakamiya's work is the metaphor of advanced spirituality. Wakamiya says he thinks this way. For a long period of time, until civilization acquired scientific power, nature appeared in human life as something that was almost uncontrollable, whether it was a blessing or a disaster. It is a tool for people to overcome the uncontrollable events that occur in their lives. For example, faith was something that gave us the wisdom to live better.

However, with the rise and progress of science, the arrogant illusion that everything can be controlled by human will is spreading. Respect for life and nature, including humans, has been lost, and faith, which provides the wisdom to live a better life, has disappeared from daily life.

However, in reality, no matter how much science advances, humans cannot escape the hardships of birth, old age, illness, and death, and we are still nearly powerless in the face of the threats of nature. What Wakamiya is trying to do is to reconstruct and present in the form of lacquer crafts the ``wisdom for living a better life'' that people once cherished. Wakamiya believes that a well-honed design will lead people's consciousness and gaze to the world that the ancients perceived, and at the same time bring it back into the lives of modern people.

Another true value of Wakamiya's work lies in the integration of the highest level of technical ability. The ``Hikoju Makie'' he leads is an artisan group of 20 lacquer specialists. Many more craftsmen are engaged in the production of wood. The work requires overwhelming technical ability in every step of the process.

However, in general, the division of the process into the hands of craftsmen with the highest level of skill poses a dilemma, as it becomes a barrier to achieving conceptual freedom for the craft work. In ``Hikoju Makie,'' Wakamiya shows the creative path as an artist and gains the freedom of concept for the work by winning the trust of the craftsmen as the mastermind. This teamwork of creativity and technical ability will show the craft world the ideal image of a craftsman.

B-OWND