①Foreword

Since ancient times, people in Japan have enjoyed incorporating the changing flowers and colors of the four seasons into their daily lives. Many artists have sought inspiration and subject matter in the nature around them and have given it expression in myriad ways in their work. These artists have recognized the arrival of the seasons not just in flowers like plum blossoms and peonies—long celebrated as fitting subjects for art—but also in the humble flowers by the roadside, and in plants like bracken ferns (warabi) and shepherd’s purse (nazuna). In the realm of crafts and design, in which pieces are made from diverse materials such as ceramics, glass, wood, bamboo, metal, and lacquer, the familiarity of these everyday flowers perhaps helps to bring out the distinctive qualities of each technique and allows the individuality of the artist to shine.
　This exhibition marks five years since National Crafts Museum reopened in its new location in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. This exhibition introduces pieces from the museum’s collection featuring flowers and plants that come into bloom in the spring and summer months. Even in works that depict flowers in a figurative style, the approach of different artists can vary significantly. Other works, meanwhile, evoke the essence of flowers without necessarily mimicking their appearance. Flower motifs have also been incorporated into the designs of everyday objects, such as vases, which bring real flowers into our homes. I hope these pieces will inspire visitors to reflect on the beauty of the flowers around us.
　As part of this exhibition, we are honored to present two pieces by Maurice Denis on special loan from The National Museum of Western Art: Table with Flowers (Marthe Denis and Her Two Daughters, Bernadette and Anne-Marie), and Gorse. The tradition of “hanami” (flower-viewing) is a cherished part of the Japanese spring, and I hope you will enjoy this unique form of hanami at National Crafts Museum as you compare the diverse expressions of flowers brought into bloom in these modern and contemporary craft and design pieces.
　Alongside this exhibition, we are also presenting a thematic display titled Living with Books. This showcases part of the library of Sugiura Hisui, an important graphic designer active during the first half of the twentieth century. It offers a glimpse into the sources that inspired his work, which earned him popularity for his modern designs in a wide variety of fields, including corporate advertising, posters, and book design.
　Lastly, we would like to express our sincere thanks to all the people concerned for their full support for our project.

March 2025

KARASAWA Masahiro
Director, National Crafts Museum