Wa Modern is a blend of cherished traditional Japanese crafts (floral arrangement, ceramics and calligraphy) presented as one. For a limited time only from 9 – 16 October, Floral Artist Setsuko Yanagisawa, Ceramist Malcolm Greenwood and Calligraphy Artist Ren Yano come together in their first mixed media collaboration at the Japan Foundation Gallery.

Wa in Japanese means Japan. It can also mean peace and harmony, attributes that Japan desires to maintain in their country. In Wa Modern, ideas of freedom, form and fusion are explored to reflect this hope where diversity is overshadowed by the merge of Eastern and Western heritages.

All three artists will be performing a live demonstration/ talk in their respective fields on Saturday 10 October from 11am – 4pm, a perfect opportunity for some hands-on learning experience and a bit of fun.

Setsuko Yanagisawa’s work draws on the idea that beauty is ever-changing. Her creations are a subtle reminder that beauty can be fleeting. Strong elements of traditional Japanese floral art (ikebana) are evident, seen in the emphasis on the structural, sculpted form that harnesses the literal sense of simplicity. She incorporates Australian flora in her works such as the Waratah, Banksia, and Pin Cushion, introducing a unique flavour of Australian spirit to the time-honoured Japanese craft.

Yanagisawa’s floral work has previously featured in the Art of Flowers exhibition at the Historic Houses Trust Government House, the ABC Gardening Expo and Customs House. She was appointed by Industrial Designer Marc Newson in 2008 to arrange for the Qantas First Class lounge display at Sydney International Airport, a position she continues to maintain today.

Malcolm Greenwood is an Australian potter who, having trained with Japanese potter Makoto Yabe, is beginning to adopt traditional Japanese techniques in his work. His designs all have a functional basis that reflects the Japanese aesthetic – simple, strong in shape, subtle in colour. But the glazes and surfaces he applies on the ceramic pieces are influenced by Australian landscapes.

Greenwood’s designs have been used in cookbooks such as Serge Dansereau’s The Bather’s Pavillion Café Cookbook, Bill Granger’s Bills Food, Donna Hay’s Food Fast and have been featured in magazine titles such as Gourmet Traveller, Vogue Living, Vogue Entertainment and Inside Out.

Ren Yano is a Japanese calligrapher based in Sydney who has received an official recognition from the Australian Government for his art. His pieces have been described as spontaneous, alive, bright with colour yet strong with simple strokes and swirls. Yano’s works have been exhibited in numerous galleries both in Japan and Australia. He runs his own calligraphy classes in Chatswood, Sydney and has appeared on various TV programmes on Channel 7 and SBS. He is regularly invited to conduct lectures and workshops at special events such as the recent Japanese Studies Association of Australia conference held at the Art Gallery of NSW earlier this year.

Focused on the traditional Japanese elements of grace, elegance, beauty and simplicity, each of the artists have developed pieces strong on form, drawing on both Japanese and Australian elements of design. Each of the works featured in Wa Modern are inspired by other pieces in the collection. Together they celebrate cultural fusion and the beauty of imperfection.