While in his 20s, British potter Bernard Leach (1887-1979), who was brought up in East Asia, started to fraternize with some of Japan's most forward-thinking artists. His friendship with Soetsu Yanagi, the founder of mingei — a movement that advocated the "utilitarian beauty" of Japanese traditional everyday objects — led him to become heavily involved in Japanese culture, and he considered it his mission to achieve a "marriage between the East and the West" in his work.
An avid traveler, Leach visited Japan as many as 15 times and settled there for around 11 years. To mark the centenary of his career, this exhibition presents 170 of his masterpieces, including some early etchings; till Aug. 26.
The Japan Folk Crafts Museum; (03) 3467-4527; 4-3-33, Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo; Komaba Todai-mae Station, he Keio Inokashira Line. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ¥1,000. Closed Mon. www.mingeikan.or.jp.
