Bulgari Mecenate is a project initiated by Bulgari Japan to carry on traditional Japanese crafts and rethink traditional techniques with contemporary techniques and ideas. Eleven artists are selected in a competition received financial support from Bulgari to create their works and had the opportunity to present them at the Bulgari Ginza. This ‘UNITED CORSET’ exhibit represents both Western and Eastern cultures. It was inspired by a traditional Italian craft called ‘needle lace,’ which originated in the 15th century. This corset was made from paper in the needle lace style, then covered with Urushi. Urushi was used to make Japanese armor in the age of civil wars because it is both solid and durable. The corset was formed using Japanese traditional paper Ogawa washi, which has a long history, dating back about 1300 years. The washi was created by hand. I then cut it using a laser cutter, and worked it into the figure of snakes. Then, I lacquered it with Urushi. With these techniques, I am expressing a new style of Urushi artwork that combines high-technology with traditional materials and techniques.
