HIDA: A Woodwork Tradition in the Making

Presenting a Region’s Contribution to Japan’s Aesthetic and Crafts Traditions

In the Hida Takayama region of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, a woodwork tradition dating back more than 1300 years has been passed on and continually refined, thriving into the current age. HIDA: A Woodwork Tradition in the Making, presented at Japan House Los Angeles, is an exhibition that explores the core of Japanese aesthetics and craftsmanship through Hida’s woodwork tradition. Through the products of Hida Sangyo Co., Ltd., one of the oldest furniture manufacturers in Japan, the exhibition explores the interaction of FOREST, HUMAN, TIME and CRAFT that gave birth to this rich tradition.

Client :

Japan House Los Angeles

Year :

2020

Industry :

Manufacturing & Retail

Exhibition / Space

Concept

The exhibition is divided into two parts, both centered around the themes of coexisting with the forest (Forest), considering inherent human needs (Human), cultivating legacy through time (Time), and continuously refining the craft (Craft). The front gallery serves as an introduction to the Hida region and its longstanding history, culture, and relationship with the forest. The main gallery showcases Hida’s woodwork tradition through the region’s traditional handicrafts and the versatile products of Hida Sangyo. The ever-evolving craftsmanship of the region is evident in the raw materials, manufacturing processes, and finished products displayed together in this gallery.

Exhibition Design: Main Gallery

Six large, low pedestals made from compressed cedar, titled DISCOVER, SHAPE, CONNECT, WELCOME, SENSE, and NURTURE, greet visitors in the main gallery. Following the themes printed on Mino Washi paper from Gifu, visitors can walk around the pedestals as if strolling through the forest. By viewing the raw materials, tools, manufacturing processes, and products up close, sometimes even smelling and touching them, visitors can immerse themselves in the allure of Hida’s woodcraft.

Exhibition Design: Front Gallery

In the front gallery, large plywood panels display visual information about the role the Hida region has always played in Japan’s rich culture. Passing through this section, visitors feel as if they are walking through the woods of Hida while familiarizing themselves with the region before entering the main gallery.