THE JAPANESE ART OF TAKUMI
I have always had a great fascination with Japanese culture, and the way they mindfully honour old traditions of craftsmanship. In Japan there is a separation between the ‘ordinary’ artisan and takumi– masters of their craft.
Takumi form a large part of Japanese tradition. They are artists who hone and perfect their skills over a lifetime. In contemporary Japan the term has become more generic, and the true practitioners of takumi have declined, but there are still those who remain dedicated to their craft. Perfectionism, diligence and discipline are prominent traits of all takumi. For a true master, time spent honing their craft is not about monetary gain, but about continuing a dialogue with time, and the heart of mankind, itself.
While reading a blog about Japanese pottery by Robert Yellin in the Japanese Times I came across this quote;
The way in which the modern human craves the convenience and speed of machinery it would be easy for the old ways of craftsmanship to fade into history were it not for the takumi of the world. Traditional crafted objects, made with two human hands, are not only mere things, but keepers of our cultural identity, heirloom pieces that speaks to the heart and communicate through time.
Images by Dida Sundet Photography