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ポケモン×工芸 美とわざの大発見
人間国宝から若手まで20名のアーティストが、「工芸」の素材と技法でポケモンと「真剣勝負」。そのひらめきと悶えと愉しみの中から生まれた約70点の作品を掲載。工芸ならではの豊かな物質感と卓抜のわざが極めた、ポケモンの思いがけない表情を堪能できる。「ポケモン×工芸展 ―美とわざの大発見―」公式図録。
- GenresNonfiction
168 pages, Hardcover
Published April 1, 2023
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2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 4, 2025
3.5 stars
Book bought in Tokyo after viewing the actual exhibition. It's both in English and Japanese.
I saw this exhibition on tv when it first started, at my friend's house during New Year. Who would have thought that, two years later, I'd actually get see it in person!
I read the first chapter of the book in Japanese and English, but since the English translation was super close to the Japanese, I took the easy way out, and read it in English. It's very literal, to the point that, in my opinion, sometimes the sentences don't always make sense. I occasionally went back to the Japanese for clarification, which did help. An example is: Mitsuta focuses in his work on "How I don't express myself?" and "Am I copying my subject accurately?"
How I don't express myself = いかに自分を出さないか = ika ni jibun wo dasanai ka = can't I express myself less.
The book gives each artist 4 pages of photos and two pages of text (one in English and one in Japanese) (with more photos). It's a fair division, but doesn't always make sense. Some artists have way more works, like for example Matsumoto Keiko. My favourite works of her, her pokemon plates, were all crammed into one picture. As were her Vulpix and Ninetails vase (again some of my favourites of her). Also thought it was a pity they didn't include a picture of the amphaross/mareep/flaafy kimono as worn. According to the text the obi was coloured so that with the right knot mega ampharros would appear, but unfortunately, no picture, and the pieces were showcased separately in the exhibition as well.
While the book discusses Japanese traditional arts, it never goes in depth, which I feel is a pity. It does however go into detail about how we, the viewer, feel when looking at the art. Might be me being autistic, but they were rarely even close.
I did learn a lot about the pieces. I loved when the text mentioned some technique or tidbit, and made me go back to the pictures to look at how it worked out. The little words in the mareep kimono, or the little backhairs on the umbreon netsuke. The woodworking details by Fukuda Toru etc.
While I wish I could have learned MORE, I'm happy I got to learn at least a bit about these traditional crafts.
And it helped me better understand some of the weirdest objects on display. "Untitled" by Tanaka Nobuyuki was one I didn't understand during the exhibition. It's a large black column, designed after the pokemon move shadow sneak. But looking at it, it's just a large black stone. The title being "Untitled" didn't help either. Nothing seems pokemon about it. We figured that maybe it was a piece already installed in the museum, and just hard to remove. Similarly the ice crystals "Vessel - TSURARA- by Niimi Hiroki", while more pokemon themed (they made me think of Sableye's crystal)
also felt a bit out of place to me. They were large glass crystals, but again didn't really give me pokemon. Without the guidebook I never would have known these pieces were a part of the exhibition (especially with "Untitled" being kinda in a separate room, that a lot of people seemed to skip) or what they were representing. Pokemon moves are just not as obvious to the onlooker as actual pokemon.
This is definitely an interesting book, and I'd recommend it to art lovers, who like pokemon. Everything is pokemon themed, but it has a multitude of different art types, from fabric, paint to ceramics. It doesn't go in depth, but gives a nice overview and idea of the art forms and their artist. The pictures are, in general, really good, and it's nice to look at the pieces in detail. If you can, definitely try and go to the exhibition, because it's wonderful!
Book bought in Tokyo after viewing the actual exhibition. It's both in English and Japanese.
I saw this exhibition on tv when it first started, at my friend's house during New Year. Who would have thought that, two years later, I'd actually get see it in person!
I read the first chapter of the book in Japanese and English, but since the English translation was super close to the Japanese, I took the easy way out, and read it in English. It's very literal, to the point that, in my opinion, sometimes the sentences don't always make sense. I occasionally went back to the Japanese for clarification, which did help. An example is: Mitsuta focuses in his work on "How I don't express myself?" and "Am I copying my subject accurately?"
How I don't express myself = いかに自分を出さないか = ika ni jibun wo dasanai ka = can't I express myself less.
The book gives each artist 4 pages of photos and two pages of text (one in English and one in Japanese) (with more photos). It's a fair division, but doesn't always make sense. Some artists have way more works, like for example Matsumoto Keiko. My favourite works of her, her pokemon plates, were all crammed into one picture. As were her Vulpix and Ninetails vase (again some of my favourites of her). Also thought it was a pity they didn't include a picture of the amphaross/mareep/flaafy kimono as worn. According to the text the obi was coloured so that with the right knot mega ampharros would appear, but unfortunately, no picture, and the pieces were showcased separately in the exhibition as well.
While the book discusses Japanese traditional arts, it never goes in depth, which I feel is a pity. It does however go into detail about how we, the viewer, feel when looking at the art. Might be me being autistic, but they were rarely even close.
I did learn a lot about the pieces. I loved when the text mentioned some technique or tidbit, and made me go back to the pictures to look at how it worked out. The little words in the mareep kimono, or the little backhairs on the umbreon netsuke. The woodworking details by Fukuda Toru etc.
While I wish I could have learned MORE, I'm happy I got to learn at least a bit about these traditional crafts.
And it helped me better understand some of the weirdest objects on display. "Untitled" by Tanaka Nobuyuki was one I didn't understand during the exhibition. It's a large black column, designed after the pokemon move shadow sneak. But looking at it, it's just a large black stone. The title being "Untitled" didn't help either. Nothing seems pokemon about it. We figured that maybe it was a piece already installed in the museum, and just hard to remove. Similarly the ice crystals "Vessel - TSURARA- by Niimi Hiroki", while more pokemon themed (they made me think of Sableye's crystal)
also felt a bit out of place to me. They were large glass crystals, but again didn't really give me pokemon. Without the guidebook I never would have known these pieces were a part of the exhibition (especially with "Untitled" being kinda in a separate room, that a lot of people seemed to skip) or what they were representing. Pokemon moves are just not as obvious to the onlooker as actual pokemon.
This is definitely an interesting book, and I'd recommend it to art lovers, who like pokemon. Everything is pokemon themed, but it has a multitude of different art types, from fabric, paint to ceramics. It doesn't go in depth, but gives a nice overview and idea of the art forms and their artist. The pictures are, in general, really good, and it's nice to look at the pieces in detail. If you can, definitely try and go to the exhibition, because it's wonderful!
January 19, 2026
I was completely enamoured with the Pokémon x Kogei exhibition when I saw it in Nagasaki this past November and had to get the catalogue as a keepsake.
I really enjoyed the insight into the processes and techniques behind each artist's work. I would have loved to read several more pages on most of them (especially the newer pieces made since 2023!), but that might just be the art nerd in me speaking.
The included photographs of the works are all beautifully shot, with the lighting showcasing the depth and texture of each crafted surface, although they're somewhat deceptive for scale. I think - as is often the way with physical artworks - you'd really have to see them in person to appreciate their true sense of size and detail. (Nothing quite compares to walking up face-to-face with a life-size metalwork Mewtwo, or peering at an intricately painted jar with Unowns smaller than my fingernail...)
But overall, it's a lovely catalogue of a very special exhibition of works. From the artist descriptions, there's a real sense of passion, dedication, and - as the title itself suggests - playfulness that each artist brings to their craft that fits so well with the world of Pokémon.
(Also fittingly, the book itself is gorgeously designed and printed!)
I really enjoyed the insight into the processes and techniques behind each artist's work. I would have loved to read several more pages on most of them (especially the newer pieces made since 2023!), but that might just be the art nerd in me speaking.
The included photographs of the works are all beautifully shot, with the lighting showcasing the depth and texture of each crafted surface, although they're somewhat deceptive for scale. I think - as is often the way with physical artworks - you'd really have to see them in person to appreciate their true sense of size and detail. (Nothing quite compares to walking up face-to-face with a life-size metalwork Mewtwo, or peering at an intricately painted jar with Unowns smaller than my fingernail...)
But overall, it's a lovely catalogue of a very special exhibition of works. From the artist descriptions, there's a real sense of passion, dedication, and - as the title itself suggests - playfulness that each artist brings to their craft that fits so well with the world of Pokémon.
(Also fittingly, the book itself is gorgeously designed and printed!)
April 3, 2024
Pokémon ✕ Kogei: Playful Encounters of Pokémon and Japanese Craft:
20 leading artists of contemporary Japanese Kogei (traditional arts and crafts), ranging from living national treasures to up-and-coming talents, have realized works on the theme of Pokémon in a wide variety of materials and techniques. All the objects have been created exclusively for this occasion, each demonstrating the various approaches each artist took to the subject. Pokémon and Kogei as you have never seen them before: the show will offer many new revelations. We invite you to witness the encounter between Pokémon and Kogei and enjoy your own great discoveries.
20 leading artists of contemporary Japanese Kogei (traditional arts and crafts), ranging from living national treasures to up-and-coming talents, have realized works on the theme of Pokémon in a wide variety of materials and techniques. All the objects have been created exclusively for this occasion, each demonstrating the various approaches each artist took to the subject. Pokémon and Kogei as you have never seen them before: the show will offer many new revelations. We invite you to witness the encounter between Pokémon and Kogei and enjoy your own great discoveries.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews