art

Hyakkō: 100+ Makers from Japan

Can ordinary household objects be part of a distinct worldview? The exhibition 100+ Makers from Japan makes a compelling case that it can, and the answer is a clear yes.

The exhibition, currently on show at Japan House London, was organised by Ryohin Keikaku — the company we know here in the UK as Muji — and was first shown in Tokyo at its flagship store in 2023. It is the brainchild of Nagata Takahiro, who oversees the brand’s international exhibitions and is curator of the Atelier Muji gallery.

The exhibition opens with an introduction to Japanese terminology, helping visitors settle into the right frame of mind before they immerse themselves in the atmosphere.

The very meaning of Hyakkō (百工) can be translated literally as 100 craftspeople, though it has a broader, more fluid meaning: simply, many makers.

And indeed there are 123 of them: traditional craftspeople, contemporary designers, and self-taught makers, each reflecting their own way of life and culture through the work, as well as the local environment in which they create. They hail from all corners of Japan, from studios in major cities to tiny workshops tucked deep in the mountains.

The exhibition offers a rich variety of styles and ideas. On display is a collection of nearly 2,000 everyday objects including tableware, decorative pieces, and more: all handmade from materials such as wood, clay, glass, metal, bamboo, and leather. What unites them is a distinctly Japanese aesthetic of elegance and meditative simplicity, intrinsic to handcraft. These are objects that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who uses them day to day, offering a more intuitive understanding of the philosophy of wabi-sabi.

侘び寂び
wabi-sabi

adj. & n.
Wabi refers to the beauty found in simplicity and imperfection, while sabi conveys the quiet dignity that emerges with the passage of time. Cracks, fading, and signs of wear have long been valued in Japan, seen not as flaws but as profound expressions of impermanence. Wabi-sabi is not mere decoration, but an aesthetic sensibility that embraces the natural flow of time.

Alongside the works themselves, Hyakkō invites visitors to watch a film documenting the making process, which adds considerable depth to the experience.