Kenichi and Minako Fujii Fujii Seisakusho
Hello, could you introduce yourself and tell us about the journey that led to the creation of Fujii Seisakusho?
Fujii Seisakusho is run by us, Kenichi and Minako Fujii. We learned woodworking techniques together in Hida Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, and after working for a furniture manufacturer for several years, we established our own workshop. Kenichi is in charge of the design and woodwork, and Minako is in charge of the urushi lacquering. We aim to create works that make the most of the materials wood and urushi. The shapes of our pieces are very simple, but we pay attention to the details and want to create beautiful shape that fit comfortably in the hand.
You create many utensils and functional objects: what role does lacquer play in your daily life?
For us, lacquer is something that is close to us and that we always have in our hands in our daily lives.
Do you consider lacquer primarily as a functional solution or as a true medium of visual expression?
The purpose of lacquer is to protect wood and ensure it can be used for a long time. On top of that, to bring out the charm of the work, we use a variety of techniques to create what we want to express.
What are the main steps involved in creating a lacquered piece in your workshop?
We select wood that goes well with lacquer and create the wooden base. Lacquer is a strong natural paint, but if oil or salt soaks into the wood, it will repel the lacquer, so we need to be careful when finishing the wood. Once the wood is finished, we move on to the lacquering process.
How does your environment influence your choice of materials?
Japan has a warm and humid climate, which we think makes it the perfect environment for working with lacquer. Wood and lacquer do not like to be extremely dry. Japan is a culture of wood, so we think it was natural to work with wood and lacquer. Both wood and lacquer are materials that take time to work with. We believe it's important to place ourselves in a calm environment, so we create in the countryside, where time passes slowly.
How do you approach the balance between tradition and innovation: respecting ancient practices on the one hand, and exploring new forms and uses on the other?
We believe that it is important to pass on traditions, but as times change, we also believe that it is difficult to pass them down in their original form. If possible, we would like traditions to be something close to home, so we would like to use traditional techniques while also reflecting them in everyday items that fit modern lifestyles. In terms of technique, we are taking on new challenges by combining traditional techniques with our own experience.
Can you present the two plates that are featured in our Urushi Lacquer Selection and explain the lacquer techniques used for each?
Each plate represents a particular technique. The first uses the Makiji method, which involves sprinkling a powder called "jinoko" on the wood and then harding it with lacquer. "Jinoko" is made from crushed mountain diatomaceous earth and stone. The second plate illustrates the Fuki urushi technique. Lacquer is applied to the wood base and then wiped with paper. After it dries, the surface is polished, lacquer is applied, and then wiped with paper. This process is repeated until the finish is complete.
- Location: Hida Takayama, Japan
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