“KOGEism 2026 – Exposition: Les matériaux et la pensée humaine,” will showcase 20 artists from Japan and France who bring diverse cultural backgrounds and techniques, will be held at AXIS Gallery in Roppongi from September 16 to 24, 2026, and at Ginza Tsutaya Books from October 3 to 27, 2026.

This exhibition re-examines craft not merely as a traditional cultural heritage, but as a form of philosophy and expression for people living in contemporary society, it explores how people engage with materials, create objects and strive to leave a legacy for future generations. The exhibition poses the question: “What does craft mean for the way we will live in the future?”

A diverse range of works, including lacquerware, ceramics, textiles, metalwork, bamboo crafts, glass, feather art, straw marquetry, and woodturning — that employ a wide variety of materials and techniques will be showcased. Rather than categorizing artists by genre or nationality, the exhibition organizes the space based on the underlying “relationship between materials and people” presented in each work. By bringing together works from different backgrounds, such as techniques, aesthetic sensibilities, views of nature, and philosophies of craftsmanship, the exhibition invites visitors to engage with the “present” state of craft and contemplate its “future.”

What can craft share across countries and eras? What new forms of expression and value emerge when different cultures meet? “KOGEism 2026” will offer a chance to explore these possibilities.

◾️Artists
Japanese artists
Hisaya Tsukiji (Lacquerware), Iori Nakajo (Lacquerware), Mayu Nakata (Lacquerware), Haruka Sotome (Lacquerware), Mari Yoshimura (Ceramics), Tomoko Takahashi (Ceramics), Atsushi Nakata (Ceramics), Norikatsu Sato (Ceramics), Gentaro Nitta (Textile dyeing and weaving), Anzu Fua (Textile dyeing), Satoshi Hara (Metalwork), Yasuyoshi Matsumoto (Metalwork), Shunji Sasaki (Glass), Masao Adachi (Glass), Toshie Oki (Bamboo craft)

French artists
Nicolas Pinon (Lacquerware), Pietro Seminalli (Folded textile art), Nelly Saunier (Feather art), Lison de Caunes (Straw marquetry), Alain Mailland (Woodturning)

◾️General information
“KOGEism 2026 – Exposition: Les matériaux et la pensée humaine”

Venue1
AXIS Gallery (5-17-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan)
Dates: September 16 – 24, 2026
Hours: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
Admission: General – JPY1,000 / Students (including university students) – Free

Venue 2
Ginza Tsutaya Books (GINZA SIX 6F, 6-10-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan)
Dates: October 3 – 27, 2026
Hours: 10:30 am – 9:00 pm
Admission: Free

Website: https://www.ukiyoemag.com/en/kogeism

*For further details, please refer to the official website.