Infosession – Japan Aesthetics Through Material Culture

Until the mid-nineteenth century, there were few distinctions between decorative and fine arts in Japan. Objects and adornment were considered components of cultural practices, unlike the Western divide between art and craft.

This course will explore material innovation, current design practices, and the remarkable transnational influence of contemporary Japanese design. We will examine the formal language of everyday Japanese life as exemplified by the holistic art form of Japanese tea culture that considers architecture, calligraphy, painting, ceramics, textiles, lacquerware, metalwork, and woodwork.