Japanese craftsmanship travels from the Meiji era to the present at TCDC

From intricate Meiji-era crafts to contemporary capsule-toy figures and food models, The Superlative Artistry of Japan traces the extraordinary technical skill and inventive thinking behind Japanese craftsmanship. The touring exhibition, organised by The Japan Foundation, Bangkok in collaboration with the Creative Economy Agency and curated by Professor Yuji Yamashita, brings together more than 30 selected works spanning traditional kogei and contemporary creations. Highlights include a large Satsuma vase decorated with flowers and gold leaf, an embroidered hanging depicting the gates of Nikko Shrine and a shell-shaped incense container demonstrating the maki-e lacquer technique. Contemporary pieces show how the same attention to detail continues in unexpected forms, from hyper-realistic food replicas to tiny animal figures by Kaiyodo. The exhibition considers how Japanese craftsmanship developed during the Meiji period, when traditional techniques were combined with Western influences, and how those skills continue to find new expressions today.

October 10-November 15. TCDC Chiang Mai. Muang Samut Road, Chang Moi. 10:30am-7pm. Closed Mondays