Event
Takashi Ichikawa
Tools for an Imaginary People
The Liberation of Tea
The “Tea wheel” was created to bring the world of tea outdoors. My solo exhibition at the Center for COSMIC WONDER began with an exhibition of the tea wheel. Later, as I began to develop the tools of the “tea place”, I turned my attention to the “human use of plants” with a focus on tea. I began to make tea from the leaves or stems of plants other than the tea tree, wild plant tea, medicinal herb tea, mountain tea, bancha, and the teas of ethnic minorities. From drying, rubbing, and frying plants to roasting, baking, frying, steaming, fermenting, boiling, and mixing, I have studied these processes and have developed containers, utensils and tools for feeling, experimenting, and playing with the power of plants. You could say that these are playful tea utensils. In addition to receiving the power of plants through the mouth, we can also receive it through our eyes, ears, nose, and skin. Please enjoy working with these tools, from earthenware bottles to pots and utensils for roasting and boiling tea, distilling vessels, and wood-fired kilns.
Takashi Ichikawa
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We are pleased to present Takashi Ichikawa’s exhibition, “Tools for an Imaginary People: The Liberation of Tea”, at the Center for COSMIC WONDER. This exhibition, the eighth in a series, will bring together all of the tea utensils he has exhibited to date, as well as new works born from his experiences in Guizhou, China, where he visited this past June. Ichikawa has long been experimenting with tea and, at the same time, contemplating the concept of tea itself. On the first and second days of the exhibition, he will hold a wild-grass tea ceremony in collaboration with yasousora, an organization that promotes the infinite power of wild grass. We look forward to your visit.
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Exhibition period:
September 20 – September 24, 2024
* Fri, 20th – Sat, 21st: by appointment only and only workshop participants are allowed to visit the Center for COSMIC WONDER. (Visitors are always welcome to come to the Center for COSMIC WONDER to view the garments.)
*Numbered tickets will be distributed at the entrance of the venue from 10:30 a.m. on the day of your visit on Sunday, the 22nd. 12 people per hour will be allotted. Please note that if the number of visitors reaches the limit on the day of the workshop, admission will be denied even if you stand in line.
*From Monday, 23rd (national holiday), visitors can freely come to the Center for COSMIC WONDER without reservations. Please note that admission will be restricted during busy times.
Venue:
5-18-10 Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
- +81 (0)3 5774 6866
Open noon – 6pm
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Full Booked, Thank you.
Opening Event:
yasousora with Takashi Ichikawa “nono tea ceremony”
This will be our first collaborative tea ceremony.
Message from yasousora
Wildflowers, full of life energy, are right under our feet.
Through light, water, and fire, we take in the wildflowers as drops of life energy.
Demonstration of the process of making sora-tea and stories about wildflowers.
Using Takashi Ichikawa’s furnace and tea utensils, each person will make a cup of nono-tea.(wildflower tea)
Message from Takashi Ichikawa
I will prepare something that I would like you to drink at this time, something that I feel is interesting. I intend to work with ethnic minority teas and various materials and utensils
Friday, September 20
noon – 1:30 pm
Friday, September 20
3 pm – 5:30 pm
Saturday, September 21
noon – 1:30 pm
Saturday, September 21
3 pm – 5:30 pm
yasousora / Gendou Sawamura and Hina Sawamura
Learning from grasses about how people and grasses can thrive together.
Based in Fukuoka, Japan, they are active in communicating the life energy of wild grasses through wild teas.
Top of photo : Lotus tea and white tea in peach blossoms floating in an earthenware lotus pond
Bottom of photo : Ichikawa roasting yasousora‘s tea in an earthenware pot
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COSMIC WONDER
THAT OLD MAGIC at Elbereth
We are pleased to announce our new collection presentation at Elbereth, Kyoto.
Collection superimpositioned of beautiful shining foil and old owl printed patterns. The patterns are printed on cotton linen typewriter in the motif of owl floral patterns. The print is an evolution of technology, incorporating the hand technique of Kyoto Yuzen into a machine. Items include a uniquely structured coat that can be folded in two and worn over, wrapped pants, bow-tie shirt and shirt wrapped dress with bow-tie, and a tote-bag.
Collection reconstructed antique underwear from the 19th century. The artistic pieces, which vary in materials and details, are handcrafted one by one. Items include tasuki, veil hat, and pillow cover dress.
Collection of silk paper grogram, a traditional silk cloth woven in Tango, Kyoto. In ancient times, silk was introduced to Kyo-Tango and developed as Tango chirimen, and the tradition is still carried on today. Items include a large circular dress, a dolman sleeveless collarless jacket, and a 50’s shirt dress.
Collection of cotton linen weather, a strong cloth that is densely woven and windproof. Items include a CW basic haori coat and tattsuke pants that copy the shape of Japanese work clothes.
Collection of cotton silk broadcloth. Items include shirts for tea master, basic wrapped pants, and wrapped dresses with flared sleeves.
Please enjoy this opportunity to come our new collection all at Elbereth.
We are sincerely looking forward to seeing you at the exhibition.
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Exhibition period:
May 18ー 26, 2024
*AAWAA will be present on May 18
Venue:
Elbereth
1-2 Ushiwaka-cho, Shichiku, Kita-ku, Kyoto
Open noon – 6:30pm
Drawing by Stephen Sprott
Masaho Anotani
LINALSASI
We are pleased to present Masaho Anotani’s solo exhibition,”LINALSASI”. Anotani’s work stems from his daily activities and social encounters, along with the sensations he gains from nature. His artistic expressions are the instantaneous reactions that emerge from these moments. He has presented his work in various forms, including painting, drawing, collage, performance, poetry, and photography. The title of this exhibition, “LINALSASI,” is a quotation of the characters that were conjured up by the imagination of Anotani’s son. It was an accidental and undecipherable string of letters but Anotani saw it as a message, an irreplaceable path of light, laying the foundation for his new work.
Anotani’s drawings and collaborations with COSMIC WONDER’s “THAT OLD MAGIC” and “North Village Light” collections will be exhibited and available for sale.
We look forward to your visit.
COSMIC WONDER FREE PRESS:
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Exhibition period:
February 10 – February 29, 2024
Tea Party: February 10, from 3pm
*Artist will be present on February 10 and 29.
Venue:
5-18-10 Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
T. +81 (0)3 5774 6866
Open noon – 6pm
INSTAGRAM:
COSMIC WONDER with Kogei Punks Sha
NONO OMIZUE
We are pleased to announce the exhibition “NONO OMIZUE” by COSMIC WONDER with Kogei Punks Sha. The “NONO a native spirit of Kami and Cloth” exhibition was held at the Shimane Iwami Art Museum in March 2021. In preparation for the exhibit, Kogei Punks Sha spent 7 years traveling around Japan researching native fabrics, handmade papers, and sites where ancient spirits dwell. The exhibition was shaped by their unique interpretations of spirituality. The “NONO OMIZUE” was held to capture what emerged from these experiences.
For this exhibition, we will display Kamikoromo (paper garments), Kamimino (paper raincoats), and tools made by COSMIC WONDER with Kogei Punks Sha for “NONO OMIZUE,” alongside a selection of native fabrics and bast fibers. In addition, a video recorded by Nobuhiro Shimura will also be shown. The exhibition catalogue, published this year by Akaakasha (offset printed with additional stencil printing. The cover is letterpress printed on washi (paper) by Isao Nakamura of the Haigyu Area, Tokushima Prefecture. Also included is a special insert of washi made of fibers from beaten taima-fu (hemp cloth) by Takaharu Maeda of Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture) will also be presented. Also available are Nakamura Isao’s special envelope for monetary gifts and letterheads, as well as wisteria cloth by Hiroko Sakane of wisteria weaving, Tango, Kyoto. We look forward to welcoming you all.
COSMIC WONDER with Kogei Punks Sha “NONO a native spirit of Kami and Cloth”
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Exhibition period:
November 18 – December 3, 2023
*Closed: November 22 and 29
Venue:
5-18-10 Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
T. +81 (0)3 5774 6866
Open noon – 6pm
Photograph: Yurie Nagashima
Film stills: Nobuhiro Shimura
Wind for Mind
Harmonized Kitchen
When I step into nature and look at the present moment, I see the beauty of harmony.
When I touch the beauty of the world around me, my heart moves beyond the boundaries of my thoughts.
In the midst of peaceful harmony, let your heart be filled with a steady breeze!
Chinatsu Doi
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We are pleased to present Wind for Mind’s exhibition “Harmonized Kitchen” at the Center for COSMIC WONDER.
Continuing from last year, “Wind for Mind” by Chinatsu Doi, is the blessing of the plants that connect us with nature. This exhibition’s theme is the kitchen and the things that make the kitchen enjoyable. Awaji Island, where they are based, has the climate of the Seto Inland Sea, with a modest amount of rain and long days – ideal for growing herbs. The “Wind for Mind” field is located in a small mountainous area, surrounded by terraced rice paddies that have not been plowed for over ten years. There are no houses above the fields. The fields are ringed by trees that are the first to receive water from the mountains. The plants are carefully nurtured through natural farming. “Wind for Mind” will explore the resonance between the voice of our own hearts and the tenderness of plants.
We look forward to welcoming you all.
Exhibition period:
October 28 – 29, 2023
*Artist will be present on October 28 and 29.
Venue:
5-18-10 Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
T. +81 (0)3 5774 6866
Open noon – 6pm
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Fragrance Workshop by Wind for Mind
Plants are distilled in a small copper distiller to extract their fragrance. Using calendula flower-soaked oil as a base, essential oils will be blended to make room fragrance or lotion. Let your senses feel the the pure presence of these plants from the fragrance of a single drop.
Saturday, October 28
12:30pm – 2pm
Sunday, October 29
12:30pm – 2pm
Reservation required
13,000 JPY
If you wish to join, please register thorough the Center for COSMIC WONDER Online Store.
AAWAA
Ni
October 7 − November 26, 2023
Tango Ancient Village Museum
108 Miya Tango-cho, Kyotango
Open 9:30 am − 5 pm
Closed Tuesday
ECHO TOMORROW FIELD
Takashi Ichikawa
Tools for an imaginary people
Back to the starting point for the future
It has been a long time since I have fired a Yakishime ware.
I am referring to the earthenware (Haji) vessels that I used to bake in my early days. The clay is from Lake Biwa, whose shores have been slowly receding since ancient times. The soil, from the mountain where the ancient lake bed was raised, once kneaded, is left to rest. I plan to take about six days for the firing process.
Upon discovering the charm of tea, I started making tea utensils, earthenware bottles, furnaces, Chagurama (Tea wheels), Ochamochi (Tea boxes), and other tea items. While working with tea only gets more and more interesting, I have also made a variety of tableware.
So this time I will try to make vessels and utensils that show both my current point of view and my past experiences. In other words, I am thinking about the future, looking upward, while perhaps also circling back to my origin. For this exhibition, I would like to display objects that retain the quiet memory of clay, with all its primordial power, while keeping the flow of fantastical folklore intact.
Takashi Ichikawa
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We are pleased to present Takashi Ichikawa’s exhibition, “Tools for an imaginary people Back to the starting point for the future”, at the Center for COSMIC WONDER. This exhibition, the seventh in a series, will present new tea ceremony utensils and earthenware made from clay from the mountains where the Lake Biwa bed was raised in Shiga, which is where Ichikawa lives. We are pleased to welcome Gendo Sawamura and Hina Sawamura, who are active in communicating the infinite power of wildflowers, for a workshop and tea ceremony featuring wildflowers.
We look forward to your visit.
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Exhibition period:
September 16 – September 24, 2023 / Open throughout the exhibition period
16th and 17th are by appointment only.
*Reservations for visits on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 have been closed. From the 18th on, visitors may enter freely. Entry will be restricted during busy times.
Venue:
5-18-10 Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
T. +81 (0)3 5774 6866
Open noon – 6pm
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Opening Event:
1. Workshop “Sora tea”
The purpose of this event is to transform the wildflowers at our feet through light, water, and fire.
Enjoy the stories of wild grasses told with the tea tools of Takashi Ichikawa and sweets of yoin, including a demonstration of the process of picking grasses for making Sora tea (a wild herbal tea concoction).
Saturday, September 16
noon – 2:30 pm
Sunday, September 17
noon – 2:30 pm
Reservation required
Fee: 15,000 JPY
2. Tea ceremony “Sora”
To free up the mind and body. To let the fragrance of the grass, the power of the earth, and the life of the field permeate the cells and spirit. Enjoy the stories of wild grasses, Sora tea (a wild herbal tea concoction), confectionery by yoin, and tea tools made by Takashi Ichikawa.
Saturday, September 16
4pm – 5:30 pm
Sunday, September 17
4pm – 5:30 pm
Reservation required
Fee: 13,000 JPY
*All the seats are booked.
yasousora / Gendou Sawamura and Hina Sawamura
Learning from grasses about how people and grasses can thrive together.
Based in Fukuoka, Japan, they are active in communicating the life energy of wild grasses through wild teas.
COSMIC WONDER with Kogei Punks Sha
“NONO a native spirit of Kami and Cloth”, an exhibition commemorating the publication of the catalogue
We are pleased to announce the publication of the catalogue of the exhibition “NONO a native spirit of Kami and Cloth” by COSMIC WONDER with Kogei Punks Sha. The exhibition was held at the Shimane Iwami Art Museum in March 2021 and the catalogue is published by AKAAKASHA. In preparation for the exhibit, Kogei Punks Sha spent two years traveling around Japan and researching native fabrics, handmade papers, and sites where ancient spirits dwell. The exhibition was shaped by their unique interpretations of spirituality.
“NONO OMIZUE” was also held to capture what emerged from these experiences.
The catalogue is offset printed with additional stencil printing. The cover is letterpress printed on washi (paper) by Isao Nakamura of the Haigyu Area, Tokushima Prefecture, and bound by hand. Also included is a special insert of washi made of fibers from beaten taima-fu (hemp cloth) by Takaharu Maeda of Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture.
For this exhibition to launch the catalogue, we will display Kamikoromo (paper garments), Kamimino (paper raincoats), and tools made by COSMIC WONDER with Kogei Punks Sha for “NONO OMIZUE,” alongside a selection of native fabrics and bast fibers. Please take your time to enjoy the exhibition in the fresh greenery. The catalogue will be released at the Center for COSMIC WONDER on Saturday, May 27.
Exhibition catalogue “NONO a native spirit of Kami and Cloth”
Published: March 21, 2023 by AKAAKASHA
Book concept: Kogei Pankus Sha (Yukinori Maeda, Sumiko Ishii)
Design: Maki Yoshimura
Cover Washi: Isao Nakamura
First edition: 1000 copies
Exhibition period:
May 27 – June 3
Open 11am – 6pm *Closed on May 31
Venue:
gallery hakuden
7 Moriyamada, Kyotanba-cho, Funai-gun, Kyoto
t/f 0771-82-1782
Photo:
Fish drying hut, Okidomari area, Shimane Prefecture
(circa 1945-30, when Fuji-fu (wisteria cloth) fishing nets were in use)
Spring Equinox Crafts and Arts Festival
We are pleased to announce the “Spring Equinox Crafts and Arts Festival” exhibition at Center for COSMIC WONDER featuring new works by artists Naoto Ishii, Sumiko Ishii, Keisuke Sugimoto, and Mikuko Nakamura.
Naoto Ishii, based in Tamba, Kyoto, seeks to express through his pottery that which lies beyond time and space. His work includes earthenware pots and feather pots fired in a climbing kiln, as well as bowls made of German white clay. Sumiko Ishii, who incorporates unseen dimensions of handcraft into her work, creates shoulder bags made of old cotton cloth from left in an old Korean chest and spools and needle pins made of snow-bleached natural cloth. She also makes grass pillows with abstract impressions made with handmade Japanese paper from Yomogi(Japanese mugwort) and Kuromoji trees. Keisuke Sugimoto, a contemporary artist who makes paintings inspired by the structure and movement of time and space will exhibit “Surface of Time”. Mikuko Nakamura expresses the manifestation of prayer through her arrangements of wild and mountainous plants. She was taught by a women of Latvia, where she once visited, that the crowns for festivals were made of flowers, oak leaves, and other plants in the fields. She brings her experience in cord weaving to weaving grass, drawing inspiration from her family, friends, and loved ones. Nakamura searches for the right grasses, collects them, washes and arranges them, creating amulet-like weaves with a quiet consciousness.
We look forward to your visit.
Exhibition period:
March 11 – March 30
*Artists will be present on March 11.
Venue:
5-18-10 Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
T. +81 (0)3 5774 6866
Open noon – 6pm
From top to bottom
Keisuke Sugimoto “Surface of Time”
Naoto Ishii “Ai”
Sumiko Ishii “Spool and needle pillow of primitive textile”
Mikuko Nakamura “Weaving of Biwa leaf”
Video screening
COSMIC WONDER
North Village Light
We will be pleased to present a show video of the 2023 S|S|A|W collection “North Village Light” and display samples at Center for COSMIC WONDER.
We look forward to your visit.
Dates:
Saturday, February 18 – Sunday, March 9, 2023
Venue:
5-18-10 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
03-5774-6866
Noon – 6pm
Karin Schlageter
Hanayo collaboration with COSMIC WONDER
TAMAUSAGI
“文車妖妃 ・La sorcière des Fuguruma” is a research notebook created by independent curator Karin Schlageter during her residency at Villa Kujoyama, Kyoto, and is an exhibition and event program. All together put the series of events resembles the chapters of a book with no beginning and no end. “文車妖妃 ・La sorcière des Fuguruma” centers on a new look at the inheritance of the vernacular in contemporary creation, and seeks to encourage a sincere reinterpretation, putting aside issues of authenticity and heritage. In the fourth chapter of “文車妖妃 ・La sorcière des Fuguruma,” artist and photographer Hanayo will present the performance “TAMAUSAGI” in collaboration with COSMIC WONDER.
Date:
Saturday, December 17, 2022, 2pm − 9pm
Performance at 7:15pm
*Villa Kujoyama 30th Anniversary Event
Free Admission
Venue:
Villa Kujoyama
17-22 Hinooka, Ebisudani-cho, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto
rinn to hitsuji
Inner Nature
We are pleased to present rinn to hitsuji’s “Inner Nature” exhibition.
rinn to hitsuji’s Rie Suzuki creates graceful rays of light that spring forth from the wicks of her beautiful candles.
Created by hand and with heart, the candles are made with beeswax and natural waxes extracted from soybeans and then blended with natural essential oils for fragrance. Humans are nature itself and the soul is the universe itself. We asked the participants to create candles that illuminate the soul so that we can gaze at this beautiful light that is also within.
On the first day of the exhibition, we will have pain d’epices by Daisuke Nakayama of Makibino who grinds wheat grains on a millstone, kneads the dough by hand, and bakes the bread in a wood-fired oven.
This traditional French pastry with preservative properties was spread by the Crusaders during their expeditions in ancient times. He used to carry pain d’epices in his bag from France during his pilgrimage to Spain. He started baking pain d’epices because of the many happy experiences he had communicating with people from all over the world who were going on pilgrimages even though they did not understand each other’s languages.
Please come and light a candle and enjoy some thinly sliced pain d’epices as we celebrate the arrival of the winter season.
We sincerely look forward to your visit.
Dates:
Saturday, December 3 – Sunday, December 25, 2022
Makibino’s pain d’epices will be on sale on Saturday, December 3, 2022.
Venue :
Center for COSMIC WONDER
5-18-10 Minami Aoyama, Tokyo
T. +81 (0)3 5774 6866
Open noon – 6pm
*Winter holidays: Monday, December 26 – Wednesday, January 4, 2023