The Sōdeisha Movement: A Silent Revolution in Japanese Ceramics

The Sōdeisha movement revolutionized postwar Japanese ceramics by freeing them from any utilitarian function. From Yagi Kazuo to Kumakura Junkichi, this silent revolution continues to inspire a ne...

Sung-mi Kim and Korea's Hand-Sewn Legacy

In Seoul, Sung-mi Kim perpetuates the forgotten techniques of traditional Korean sewing. Ramie, hemp, natural dyes, ancient techniques… Each hand-sewn piece embodies a discreet and refined textile...

Hansan-ramie: the unparalleled finesse of an ancestral Korean textile

Handwoven using ancestral techniques passed down by the women of Hansan, Korean ramie boasts unparalleled lightness and finesse. Discover the history of this rare textile, a World Heritage Site.

How to care for a Japanese urushi lacquerware object: the expert guide

A few simple steps are enough to prolong the deep and immutable beauty of Japanese lacquer, provided you understand its nature and requirements.

Japanese urushi lacquer: reflections of time and hand

Why, when faced with an object made of Japanese urushi lacquer, does the gaze linger with this moved curiosity , almost meditative? There is in these deep surfaces, in this subtle dialogue between...

On the roads of Tōhoku: a peaceful Japan, far from the crowds

Autumn trip to Tōhoku: personal travel diary and practical advice for discovering a calm, discreet, rural Japan.

The Rimpa School: The Art of Poetic Stylization in Japan

Among Japan's great aesthetic movements, few have left such a singular mark as the Rimpa school. Neither an academy nor a hereditary lineage, Rimpa is a movement without a manifesto, born in Kyoto...

Under the snow, porcelain - a journey to Japan and Korea

In the snowy countries, immaculate whiteness covers everything, ephemeral and silent. Like it, the white porcelain and ceramics of Japan and Korea capture the light in a rare purity.

Kōgō and nerikō: the meeting between ceramics and Japanese incense

Little-known treasures of Japanese incense art, kōgō and nerikō are precious objects offering a unique sensory experience.

Natsume, the poetry of patterns in the tea ceremony

In the Japanese tea ceremony, the natsume is much more than a simple container: it captures the evanescence of the seasons through the finesse of its patterns created with gold powder on the deep ...

Of Earth and Fire: An Introduction to Japanese Ceramics

A Millennial Tradition and a Timeless Art Japanese ceramics are much more than just a craft. They embody the essence of Japanese culture, a silent dialogue between man and nature. Each piece is...

Our Favorite Teahouses in Kyoto: An Immersion in the Art of Tea

Tea rooms in Kyoto: a personal selection to discover the soul of the city through its tea rooms, contemporary experiences, havens of calm and refinement.

Japanese Ceramic Vases: Symbolism and Usage

Ceramic vases in Japan play a key role in the aesthetic and spiritual culture of the country. Beyond being extremely decorative objects, they are supports for an assertive artistic expression, not...

Japanese Lacquer Boxes: Objects of Art and Tradition

Japanese society is renowned for its meticulous attention to detail and rituals, which explains the diversity and beauty of precious Japanese boxes. Among these treasures, urushi lacquer boxes st...

LACQUER, GOLD AND TEA CEREMONY: THE SECRETS OF JAPANESE NATSUME

The beauty of exceptional Japanese craftsmanship is concentrated in a single object that fits in the palm of your hand: jet-black urushi lacquer with a multitude of layers applied week after week, ...

SUNGWOO CHOI'S LEAF ART

Sung Woo Choi's leaf spoons, made from wood patiently carved in his workshop in the north of Seoul, fill us with wonder: they touch something deep inside us, a graceful object that doesn't even nee...

IN PRAISE OF THE SHADOW: JUNICHIRO TANIZAKI'S JAPAN

In Japan, the main aim will be to block out natural light, which will then only be indirect, diffused, attenuated, precarious and transformed by the 'obstacles' it encounters along the way.

The art of Korean pojagi wrapping

Atelier Ikiwa is committed to skillfully wrapping your purchases in delicate fabrics that we bring back from our travels to Seoul, thus allowing the subtle and wonderful art of pojagi, Korean wrapp...

MONO NO AWARE, THE NOSTALGIC EMOTION OF OBJECTS

Have you ever been moved by the spectacle of ephemeral nature or by the nostalgic contemplation of an object that brings back precious memories? Then you're familiar with the Japanese concept of mo...

SEOUL TRAVEL DIARY

It seems that Seoul is one of those cities that doesn't at all resemble the image we have of it. It's not a city whose beauty is obvious. And is it beautiful? Well, not really, by my own standards....