Arts & Crafts Exhibit at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum

This exhibit traces the Arts & Crafts movement's influence to the early
20th century Britain, Europe, and Japan. William Morris and others
under the influence of the aesthetic theory presented by John Ruskin
started combining modern technological products with traditional
as well as folk arts. As Pre-Raphaelites went back to the Medieval roots
as their artistic inspiration, the members of this movement took motifs
from traditional European and Isramic arts. They also took inspiration
from nature as they were expressed in English country houses such as
the Red House. (Mackintosh House at the Glosgow University museum
also expresses the concept of this movement. )

The concept of the movement -- combination of life and art -- went
from England to Scotland, Austria, Germany, then to Japan.
Soetsu Yanagi was the main theorist as for the Japanese "Mingei"
movement.

This exhibit goes until Sunday, April 5th. Enjoy Sakura in Ueno
and the excellent curatorial work at the museum.
(These images are from the exhibition websites)
Living room in Mikuni-So (三国荘) created by Yanagi and his group.