Wooden bowls coated with urushi highlighting the grain exude an all-natural one-of-a-kind feel.Ross creates two types of bowls: original and traditional. “In my original pieces, I explore modern ways to bring out the best of urushi, while my traditional pieces keep the traditional skills alive,” she explains.Suzanne RossBorn in London, United Kingdom, she arrived in Japan in 1984. As an urushi artist, she departs from traditional styles to create original pieces inspired by Japan’s natural beauty. At Wajima Kobo Nagaya, in central Wajima, one can view her pieces and some of her work processes.UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELANDJAPANlacquerware in English, but I disagree. Urushi is far superior to anything synthetic. It is light, strong and exudes elegance. Anyone who uses urushi tableware once, is instantly hooked. There is no going back to plastic tableware after that. Extracted from a single species of tree, urushi is all natural. So, instead of ‘lacquerware,’ I call it ‘urushi’ to convey its uniqueness and from synthetic products.” to distinguish For the sake of urushi, Ross channels all energies into her activities as an artist, and into her lectures and workshops both in Japan and abroad. This year, she and fellow urushi kindred spirits are launching an urushi NPO to link up all the production regions and present a unified “Japanese urushi” to the world. “Although it all comes from the same plant, it differs so much by region and by artist. I think “Japanese urushi” it would best be presented to the world as a combined force, and information on it should be shared in English worldwide.” She also challenges issues currently facing urushi are a shortage of artists and toolmakers inheriting the traditions and a dwindling supply of trees and the skilled craftsmen to tap them. “I want to spread the virtues of urushi to the world, so people buy it, use it, support it and want to study it. We must first protect the trees—if there is no sap, it’s all over.” Ross believes in telling others about the good things in life. “Urushi is beautiful and versatile. If it disappears, the world loses a great treasure, forever.” Urushi lured her from London to faraway Japan. We cannot allow its shine to fade into history. 27
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