Queensland Art Gallery Presscuttings Book 8 : Pressclippings, 1977-1981

22 Ounn•l•nd Country Life, October 2, 1980 llUlnG TODAY The art of packaging on display IN a world obsessed wilh mass production the traditional art of Japanese packaging is dying. Alread,• some particular shapes ,tnd puttcrn, nrc being lost. In an attempt to preserve the art a Japanese author, Hideyuki Oka. has put together an cxhibi1ion of 200 packages. The ex hibition. which has taken 1-lideyuki Oka 20 years to put together, is on display al the Ouccnslnnd Art Galleries in Bris– bane until October 17. The exhibition highlights the sub– tle beauty and resourcefulness of the art. In Japan the qualities and traits of nuturnl nwtcrial, han: ah av~ lh..'l'll exploited. ' The works un di,plav arc either made of natural mutalah. such u, hamboo. wood and strnw. or 1kriv;1- tivcs of n;!tural materials ~uch as llapcr and ccramks. Thcv cmhrncc ull a,pcct, from cvcryJay presentation uf f11od tn utilitarian packagini:. The package, will never rank a, the world's greatest art coll,·c1i,1n. in fact. the fate of the humble package 1s normally to he 1orn up and 1hruwn awuy. T hro ugh lhcsc uhjct•f> . however. sumethinc nf the nature ,1f Japnncsc aesthetic l1war'-· nc~s l:an hl understood. ** **** Traditionally the Japunc,e I e- licved that a cift. 1111 matter how small. should h~ \\Tapped .u that the person enjoyed llJll'n111g it as much as receivi ng h. The creation of ,uch beautiful packugc, hc,·:11m· 11111 only a work 11f art. but also a lahnr ol love. The art of the Jap.111csc package. snys 1-lidcyuki Oka. hegan nut of necessity. He hclic\'cs tlrnt the earliest pack– uging was i\CCO~lplishcd hy wrapping a given ohJcct 111 whatever materia l lay at hand . "The outcome was often not onlv adequate for storing and transpori– ing. but migllt well have been a THE acllng Consul-General of Japan. Mr Keike Hiraga (centre). discusses the beauty of a while porcelain sake bottle with the director of the Queensland Art Galleries. Mr Raoul Mellish, and Mr Ju~tice Connelly. president of the truslees of the galleries. ,implc l1,•au1iful ,hapc fre,· (I[ all cx1..·cs~ and cxtravu~:ml'c.' : · he ~uitl . As the matcriab us1.·d hcLamc IIHJrl• ;11.1\'anl'cd. the pa,.:kugcrs hl·· came sclf-con,l'iou, naftsm,·n who cndcavorcd 111 rdi,w their methods. Fur them 1h,· , act of packaging 1..·amc to hav1..· an 1mporta111 mc:aning iii i1sclf. aparl from thc imp11rtanc,· of the contents. Thus the art of packnging h,•c,1111e prnfcssionalb,·d. This was the hcginninc of pa,·kug– ing as a work nf art. Tr1,· p;1ckagcs often had mnrc charm 1h1111 the contcllls themselves. "Tuda1·. ,w 11l'rcn wonder whl' tllll"' h11ig-ag11 artis:111s tonk ,u much 1ruuhlc in wrapping unimportant . humble nhjc,·t,." ,aid lli,kyuki Oka. The hest II ay 111 unckrstand and apprccia1,· the an i, 111 sec and cxpcricn,·c 1hc package,. l'hc exhibition 111 lhc Ouccn,laml Art Galleries is the mnjor intcrna· ti1111al visual an, di,play fur Bris– hanc·s Wuran;1 Festival. It wa, officially opened on Fri1f.iv. September 19. b)' the Acting Cnns1il– Gc ncrnl uf Japan. Mr Kcike Hiraga. THE CHRONICLE Weclne • day, October 11, IIIO ~I An exhibition which attracted more than 2000 viewers during the first week ii was open at the Queensland Art Gallery, M.I.M. Building, Ann Street, Brisbane, ends on Oclober 17. Two hundred packages which range from paper sweets containers to bamboo sake holders, comprise "The Art or Japanese Package" which is the gallery's contribution to the Warana Festival. Deonstrations of lkebana, parades or traditional kimonos and presentation or the tea ceremoney, were staged at the Art Gallery in Brisbane in conjunction with this show. Toowoomba was fortunate in hearing a perlormancc of traditional Japanese music at D.D.I.A.E. Arts Thea1re on September 24. This was conducted by Mr Shinichi Yuizc and played on the Koto, the Shamisen and the Shakuhachi. "The Art of the Japanese Package" reflects the ability of 1he Japanese cralt– sman to use natural materials and his special awareness of shape, colours and tactile quality. This artist responds to nature. In Japan each of other lour season lasts about 3 months and each has its distinctive characteris1ics which orrcn in– spire artists and writers. This is reflected in "The Art or the Japanese Package" where seasonal references arc seen in such containers as those used for Mochi (cakes or steamed and pounded rice). Here wrappings or dirrerent leaves sym– polise dlrrerent seasons. The quality of restraint and u pren– tiousness which exists In Japanese design is called Shlmbuml and is regarded as one or the essentials or beauty. Calligraphy on the outside or packages is incorporated in the overall design where every part contributes to the success or the whole. The Verlie Just Town Gallery, Brisbant, permanently rcatures a Japan Room where original 17th and 19th cen– tury woodcuts, and the work or contem– porary Japanese printmakers may be ,cen. An extensive rcrerence library of Ukiyo-E and modern prints is available as well as maps and brochures concern– ing Japan. Pictured above is an earthenware con– tainer made in the form or a sake bottle to hold salted lish entrails, a Japanese delicacy, orren served with sake. It is an exhibit In the "Art of the Japanese Package" show. Ban boost for art gallery fund The Queensland Art Gallery Foundation appeal has been boosted by $20,000. Yesterda y the Commercial Bauk or Austrolla announced the donation. bringing appeal fund!! to S2,12t,000. The loundntlon was established ln December last year to buy 11 orks for Lhe new Queensland Art Gallery, part or the Cultural Centre now under construction on the Brisbane River south bank. A !und-rnlslng nppenl was launched by the founda tion In June. OBA state manager Mr Kevin Hunting pre,ented a cheque to foundation president Sir George Fisher on Tuesday. eor e aald: 11 We are very A\filIT Rrnterul for this generous contrl• l>utlon or s20,ooo from the Com– mercial Bank. "The recognlLlou 0 lhe ftppcnt has received from Industry has for exceeded our expecmtlons." He said Lhe new cultural centre ll•outd not be surpassed by an)' other facility In Australia. "It Is something or which Bmban penple will feel proud." Sir Gcorce said the centr "·oulcl "enrich the lives o Qucenslanders. 11 The gallery, due for completion In May next year, wlll be the firs of rour stages or the centre t.o b finished . I I I r I ' I