The Mingei Folk Crafts Movement

Invited Special kenynote lecture at Bennington College.

This lecture introduces the Mingei movement and its core theory created by Yanagi Sōetsu (1889-1961) in the 1920s, and its development into the nationwide and worldwide movement. By reflecting recent critique on ‘authenticity’ and ‘tradition’, the lecture will explore a new interpretation of Mingei theory as a ‘hybrid’ modern theory that characterises Japan’s modernity and cultural nationalism. It will also touch upon the contentious issues that relate to Japan’s colonialism. The talk will also introduce typical examples of Mingei collected by Yanagi for the Japan Folk Crafts Museum, as well as the works by Mingei-style studio potters including Hamada Shōji, Bernard Leach, Kawai Kanjirō and Tomimoto Kenkichi.