Exhibitions
Spring Equinox Crafts and Arts Festival
We are pleased to announce the “Spring Equinox Crafts and Arts Festival” exhibition at Center for COSMIC WONDER featuring new works by artists Naoto Ishii, Sumiko Ishii, Keisuke Sugimoto, and Mikuko Nakamura.
Naoto Ishii, based in Tamba, Kyoto, seeks to express through his pottery that which lies beyond time and space. His work includes earthenware pots and feather pots fired in a climbing kiln, as well as bowls made of German white clay. Sumiko Ishii, who incorporates unseen dimensions of handcraft into her work, creates shoulder bags made of old cotton cloth from left in an old Korean chest and spools and needle pins made of snow-bleached natural cloth. She also makes grass pillows with abstract impressions made with handmade Japanese paper from Yomogi(Japanese mugwort) and Kuromoji trees. Keisuke Sugimoto, a contemporary artist who makes paintings inspired by the structure and movement of time and space will exhibit “Surface of Time”. Mikuko Nakamura expresses the manifestation of prayer through her arrangements of wild and mountainous plants. She was taught by a women of Latvia, where she once visited, that the crowns for festivals were made of flowers, oak leaves, and other plants in the fields. She brings her experience in cord weaving to weaving grass, drawing inspiration from her family, friends, and loved ones. Nakamura searches for the right grasses, collects them, washes and arranges them, creating amulet-like weaves with a quiet consciousness.
We look forward to your visit.
Exhibition period:
March 11 – March 30
*Artists will be present on March 11.
Venue:
5-18-10 Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
T. +81 (0)3 5774 6866
Open noon – 6pm
From top to bottom
Keisuke Sugimoto “Surface of Time”
Naoto Ishii “Ai”
Sumiko Ishii “Spool and needle pillow of primitive textile”
Mikuko Nakamura “Weaving of Biwa leaf”
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Video screening
COSMIC WONDER
North Village Light
We will be pleased to present a show video of the 2023 S|S|A|W collection “North Village Light” and display samples at Center for COSMIC WONDER.
We look forward to your visit.
Dates:
Saturday, February 18 – Sunday, March 9, 2023
Venue:
5-18-10 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
03-5774-6866
Noon – 6pm
Karin Schlageter
Hanayo collaboration with COSMIC WONDER
TAMAUSAGI
“文車妖妃 ・La sorcière des Fuguruma” is a research notebook created by independent curator Karin Schlageter during her residency at Villa Kujoyama, Kyoto, and is an exhibition and event program. All together put the series of events resembles the chapters of a book with no beginning and no end. “文車妖妃 ・La sorcière des Fuguruma” centers on a new look at the inheritance of the vernacular in contemporary creation, and seeks to encourage a sincere reinterpretation, putting aside issues of authenticity and heritage. In the fourth chapter of “文車妖妃 ・La sorcière des Fuguruma,” artist and photographer Hanayo will present the performance “TAMAUSAGI” in collaboration with COSMIC WONDER.
Date:
Saturday, December 17, 2022, 2pm − 9pm
Performance at 7:15pm
*Villa Kujoyama 30th Anniversary Event
Free Admission
Venue:
Villa Kujoyama
17-22 Hinooka, Ebisudani-cho, Yamashina-ku, Kyoto
rinn to hitsuji
Inner Nature
We are pleased to present rinn to hitsuji’s “Inner Nature” exhibition.
rinn to hitsuji’s Rie Suzuki creates graceful rays of light that spring forth from the wicks of her beautiful candles.
Created by hand and with heart, the candles are made with beeswax and natural waxes extracted from soybeans and then blended with natural essential oils for fragrance. Humans are nature itself and the soul is the universe itself. We asked the participants to create candles that illuminate the soul so that we can gaze at this beautiful light that is also within.
On the first day of the exhibition, we will have pain d’epices by Daisuke Nakayama of Makibino who grinds wheat grains on a millstone, kneads the dough by hand, and bakes the bread in a wood-fired oven.
This traditional French pastry with preservative properties was spread by the Crusaders during their expeditions in ancient times. He used to carry pain d’epices in his bag from France during his pilgrimage to Spain. He started baking pain d’epices because of the many happy experiences he had communicating with people from all over the world who were going on pilgrimages even though they did not understand each other’s languages.
Please come and light a candle and enjoy some thinly sliced pain d’epices as we celebrate the arrival of the winter season.
We sincerely look forward to your visit.
Dates:
Saturday, December 3 – Sunday, December 25, 2022
Makibino’s pain d’epices will be on sale on Saturday, December 3, 2022.
Venue :
Center for COSMIC WONDER
5-18-10 Minami Aoyama, Tokyo
T. +81 (0)3 5774 6866
Open noon – 6pm
*Winter holidays: Monday, December 26 – Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Wind for Mind
Plants for the Mind, Body and Spirit
The flowers and grasses sway in the light and wind
The trees sing with the sounds of insects and birds
The waves sparkle and the sky rejoices
When we open our hearts
Plants will give us all the strength we need
We are pleased to present the exhibition “Wind for Mind: Plants for the Mind, Body and Spirit” at the Center for COSMIC WONDER.
“Wind for Mind” by Chinatsu Doi, is the blessing of the plants that connect us with nature. Awaji Island, where they are based, has the climate of the Seto Inland Sea with little rain and long days, which is ideal for growing herbs. The “Wind for Mind” field is located in a small mountainous area, surrounded by terraced rice paddies that have not been plowed for more than 10 years. There are no houses above the fields. The fields are ringed by trees that are the first to receive water from the mountains, and the plants are carefully nurtured through natural farming, listening carefully to the voices of the native plants. The gifts are created by the exchange between the plants and the ‘wind in our hearts’. When we intuitively receive these gifts, they provide us with the infinite power we need. Autumn herb salts with rosemary and fennel flowers, seasonal jams, organic ginger chai syrup, white sage bundles, rose geranium distilled water, and more.
We look forward to welcoming you all.
Exhibition period:
October 14 – 15, 2022
*Artist will be present on October 14 and 15.
Venue:
5-18-10 Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
T. +81 (0)3 5774 6866
Open noon – 6pm
Fragrance Workshop by Wind for Mind
Plants are distilled in a small copper distiller to extract their fragrance. Using calendula flower soaked oil as a base, essential oils will be blended to make roll-ons. Let your quiet mind feel the fragrance released from a single drop and the pure presence in the plants.
Friday, October 14
12:30pm – 2:00pm
Saturday, October 15
12:30pm – 2:00pm
Reservation required / Number of seats: 8
13,000 JPY
Autumn Equinox Craft Festival
We are pleased to present the “Autumnal Equinox Craft Festival” exhibition at Center for COSMIC WONDER.
Naoto Ishii’s Yorishiro-ware and Sumiko Ishii’s Okusozakuri tenba (pegasus), hand-woven old fabrics from Korea, and Andong hemp cloth, which are based in Tamba, Kyoto and express things that transcend dimensions and emerge. From Light & Will, a collection of baskets with a primitive Japanese appearance and a dialogue with their makers: Mountain cherry basket, Snack maple square basket and Japanese wing nut hand bag. rinn to hitsuji delivers a ray of beautifully lit light, Hexagonal lantern for viewing the moon made of soy wax. The Ryugu saiki ware by Shigeo Tanaka, who incorporates the beautiful fluctuation of the universe of the source and spirituality into his vessels.
These works which enhance your daily dimension, will resonate with your soul and enrich your time with richness and warmth.
We look forward to your visit.
Photo above：Sumiko Ishii “Tenba”
Photo below：Naoto Ishii “Yorishiro-ware”
Exhibition period:
September 17 – October 2
Venue:
5-18-10 Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
T. +81 (0)3 5774 6866
Open noon – 6pm
2023 S|S|A|W collection
COSMIC WONDER
North Village Light
SHOW
September 5th (Mon)
5pm JST
At Center for COSMIC WONDER
We will be live-streamed on Instagram.
COSMIC WONDER
“White Light dream” Show
Light dream begins with White.
Depicting your colors floating in the universe.
We are pleased to present 2022 collection of “Light dream” as white garments.
You can choose from a variety of white garments and dye them in beautiful colors that reflect the elegance of nature through handcrafting, such as plant dyeing, indigo dyeing, and mud dyeing.
We look forward to welcoming you.
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Show period:
June 25 – July 3
Venue:
5-18-10 Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
T. +81 (0)3 5774 6866
Open noon – 6pm
Takashi Ichikawa
Tools for an imaginary people in love with plants
Tools for an imaginary people in love with plants
Sitting on a berm of spring water
Sitting in front of a plant
In the sun, in the fire, in the light
of wildflowers of medicinal herbs of trees
Root, stem, branch, leaf, flower, seed
To touch
Made of
earth, iron, wood
In the heart
and the water that came out of the spring
With a flickering fire
Smell Meicha-yu
Takashi Ichikawa
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We are pleased to present Takashi Ichikawa’s exhibition, “Tools for an imaginary people in love with plants”, at the Center for COSMIC WONDER. Various tea wheels and tools for tea-making continue to evolve, transcending national and ethnic boundaries and fusing techniques. This exhibition, the sixth in a series, will present utensils for use in daily life in relation to fire, water, and plants, as well as vessels that have been refashioned through Ichikawa’s experiences with the environment that surrounds him.
Ichikawa’s work brings us into the intimate space and time of plants and tea. We are pleased to welcome Gendo Sawamura and Hina Sawamura, who are active in communicating the infinite power of wildflowers, for a workshop and tea ceremony featuring wildflowers.
The comforting time when you are in touch with nature, listening to the voices of plants, freeing your body and mind, enriching and coloring your daily life.
We look forward to your visit.
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Exhibition period:
May 13 – May 22, 2022
The artist will be present on May 13 and 14.
Venue:
5-18-10 Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
T. +81 (0)3 5774 6866
Open noon – 6pm
Opening Event:
1. Workshop “Sora tea”
The purpose of this event is to transform the wildflowers at our feet through light, water, and fire.
Enjoy the stories of wild grasses told with the tea tools of Takashi Ichikawa and sweets of yoin, including a demonstration of the process of picking grasses for making Sora tea (a wild herbal tea concoction).
Friday, May 13
noon – 2:30pm
Saturday, May 14
noon – 2:30pm
Reservation required / Number of seats: 6
13,000 JPY
2. Tea ceremony “Sora”
To free up the mind and body. To let the fragrance of the grass, the power of the earth, and the life of the field permeate the cells and spirit. Enjoy the stories of wild grasses, Sora tea (a wild herbal tea concoction), confectionery by yoin, and tea tools made by Takashi Ichikawa.
Friday, May 13
4pm – 5:30pm
Saturday, May 14
4pm – 5:30pm
Reservation required / Number of seats: 6
Fee: 11,000 JPY
If you wish to join, please register at the e-mail address below, indicating the name of the opening event you wish to join the date and time, your name, e-mail address, and phone number.
*All the seats are booked.
yasousora / Gendou Sawamura and Hina Sawamura
Learning from grasses about how people and grasses can thrive together.
Based in Fukuoka, Japan, they are active in communicating the life energy of wild grasses through wild teas.
yoin / Kang Wooja
From various directions such as plant foods, wild plants, and Korean culture, she expresses through her confectionery the preciousness of plants that connect all living things.
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Photo top: “Tea wheel table” 2022 / Iron, Wood
Photo bottom: “Plant Roaster” 2021 / Pottery, Iron, Wood
COSMIC WONDER “White Light dream” Show
Light dream begins with White.
Depicting your colors floating in the universe
We are pleased to present 2022 collection of “Light dream” as white garments.
You can choose from a variety of white garments and dye them in beautiful colors that reflect the elegance of nature through handcrafting, such as plant dyeing, indigo dyeing, and mud dyeing.
This show will travel to STARDUST, st company, eighty 88 eight, OUTBOUND, Utsushiki, and Center for COSMIC WONDER.
We are looking forward to seeing you.
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April 16 − April 24
at STARDUST, Kyoto
April 29 − May 8
at st company kiryu, Gunma
May 14 − May 22
at eighty eight, Ehime
May 28 − June 6
at OUTBOUND, Tokyo
June 11 − June 19
at Utusiki, Fukuoka
June 25 − July 3
at Center for COSMIC WONDER
COSMIC WONDER
Japanese wool and Cashmere garments
These Japanese wool garments are hand-spun and hand-knitted. Rare Japanese wool is shorn at a farm and washed by hand to remove dirt and oil. Hand-washing does not remove too much oil from the wool, keeping it warm. Each garment is made from the wool of one sheep, thus retaining that sheep’s unique texture. The garments are made by Kana Ushijima, who creates beautiful hand-spun wool yarns, and Tomoko Kodama, who hand-knits the unique yarns with precision. Cashmere has excellent heat retention properties. Cashmere garments are also very light and give everlasting comfort. The cashmere from Inner Mongolia, considered to be of the highest quality, is spun in Japan and knitted with a seamless ‘whole garment’ design.
We are pleased to present an exhibition of “Japanese wool and Cashmere garments”. These precious garments are a collaboration of nature and people and will grace us with everlasting love.
Photo top: Wool from Miwa Farm, Kyoto
Photo bottom: Wool from Hitsuji-mikan Farm, Mie Prefecture
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STARDUST
Exhibition period:
October 23 − October 31, 2021
Open 11am − 6pm
41 Shimodakedono-cho, Shichiku Kita-ku, Kyoto
T. +81 (0)75 286 7296
Center for COSMIC WONDER
Exhibition period:
November 6 − November 21, 2021
Open noon – 6pm
5-18-10 Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
T. +81 (0)3 5774 6866
Takashi Ichikawa
Rethinking of the plants
We are pleased to present Takashi Ichikawa’s exhibition, “Rethinking of the Plants”, at the Center for COSMIC WONDER. For this exhibition, he will share his unique perspective on tea, wild grasses and medicinal herbs, and how they can bring our lives into harmony with nature. Interacting with water, plants, and fire is an essential joy that reconnects us with the elements of nature. This exhibition envisions a lifestyle flush with wildflowers, as well as distillers, roasters, and utensils for boiling tea. A workshop and a tea ceremony will be held with two members of yasousora who have been integrating wildflowers into their daily lives and exploring their mysterious powers. Learning about and touching wildflowers liberates the body and mind and brings a sublime enrichment to our days.
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Now is the time to rethink the things in our own immediate surroundings.
It was five years ago that I came across a tea tree so large that I had to look up. The difference between the image of a tea tree and the image of a tea plant became an attraction, and a switch was flipped for me to rethink my idea of the plant. The experience of looking around and picking things up that interest me, such as tea and cooking, moves me to appreciate the wisdom of our ancestors and gives me a sense of gratitude for nature. And then I think. Tools and technology have disappeared with the changing times, and some of our senses have dulled as our lives have become too convenient. Now that the world is changing, there is a way to fortify our immune systems with the help of nature and plants. Plants work hard to protect their seeds. The power of plants is amazing. I would like to increase my sensitivity to plants by learning about their power from experts. Flowers, leaves, stems and roots. Beans, powder, and leaves. Let’s enjoy the power of plants. Attractive things are close at hand. If we turn on the switch, we can see them.
I want to make a tool that will turn on the desire to rethink our relationship to plants.
Takashi Ichikawa
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Exhibition period:
June 26 – July 4, 2021
The artist will be present on June 26 and 27.
Location:
5-18-10 Minami-aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
T. +81 (0)3 5774 6866
Open noon – 6pm
Opening Event:
1. Workshop sora’s wild grass tea Demonstration of how to make wild grass tea.
The possibilities are endless for making tea from the wildflowers that grow all around us.
You can enjoy some wild grass tea with Ichikawa’s tea utensils.
Saturday, June 26
noon − 2pm
3pm − 5pm
Fee: 8,800 JPY (with wild grass tea)
Reservation required / Number of seats: 4
*All the seats are booked.
2. Tea Ceremony “sora”
“Medicine” of the fields.
Medicinal herbs from Mount Ibuki, Wild grass tea collected and blended in sora’s field.
You can enjoy some wild grass tea with Ichikawa’s tea utensils.
Sunday, June 27
noon − 1pm
2pm − 3pm
4pm − 5pm
Fee: 6,600 JPY (with wild grass tea)
Reservation required / Number of seats: 5
*All the seats are booked.
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yasousora / Gendou Sawamura Hina Sawamura
Wild grasses connect us to ancient times, and to the universe itself.
It is our hope to educate others about the benefits of the wildflowers and wild grasses that surround us.
We are based in Fukuoka Prefecture.
