Photo courtesy JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles.
To some, wood may seem like a simple object that is used as a necessary building material, but HIDA | A WOODWORK TRADITION IN THE MAKING presented by [JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles](https://www.japanhouse.jp/losangeles/), shows wood in an entirely new light; they showcase woodworking as a true art form, skill, and tradition. The exhibit displays woodworks and other various crafts, such as glassware, showing a 1,300 year old regional tradition hailing from Hida in Japan’s Gifu Prefecture. One of the oldest furniture manufacturers in Japan, Hida Sangyo Co Ltd’s woodwork and crafts are presented in the gallery. The displays showed the different steps in the building process from the raw materials all the way to the finished product. One of the most profound things about their wood making process is that the manufacturers bend the wood instead of cutting it up and putting it back together piece by piece. There were interactive displays, such as a station that allowed you to smell the various kinds of woods used in their designs and another table where visitors could try and complete wood piece puzzles.
Photo courtesy JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles.
After the gallery viewing, guests made their way upstairs to the reception room where Sake and traditional Japanese food were served. Before the festivities, the company president, Sanzo Okada, spoke about Hida. He explained the company’s relationship with America saying how their furniture was influenced by Western designs and still is to this day. When they started bringing their items to a buyer in California the weather dried out the wood, but with this newfound knowledge, the company could work on fixing those issues and becoming better. During the 1990s, Hida began to focus on the environment and sustainability, started designing items that endured through time, and created an emphasis on the design element. Today, due to the dollar and the yen value difference, it has made it difficult for Japan to export to the U.S. Although, there is not much exporting being done, Hida has been growing domestically and has become more popular within Japanese homes. When asked if he has plans to export his furniture to the U.S. again, Okada stated that he looks forward to the opportunity.
Photo courtesy JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles.
A mix of traditional, natural, simplistic, and innovative design, the gallery allows viewers to experience beautiful craftsmanship and artistry.
Photo courtesy JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles.
Check out the gallery on view from January 16 to April 12, 2020 located at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles Gallery on Hollywood Blvd.
Photo courtesy JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles.
JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles | 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
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