Yanagi Muneyoshi (1889~1961) is widely known as the founder of the folk craft movement of modern Japan who furnished the movement's theoretical base and became a collector of folk crafts. Yanagi Muneyoshi was influenced by the Western literary trend of the medieval and modern period. His interest in beauty later led him to explore Korea, China and ultimately Japan and Taiwan as well. He also established a cultural companionship with the British studio potter, Bernard Leach, and strove for art exchange between the East and West. Yanagi Muneyoshi discovered beauty from the everyday life objects that the ordinary people make and use, which enabled him to formulate his own concept of mingei or folk craft.
The purpose of this exhibition is to focus on the formulation and development of his aesthetic views of folk crafts. The Korean audience has been familiar with Yanagi's thoughts mostly through his writings so far, and the museum hopes that the visual presentation of his collection will stimulate a moment to appreciate his aesthetics.

Main Exhibits
1. Yanagi’s Interest in and Study on Modern Western European Culture: Shirakaba, William Blake and Bernard Leach
2. Yanagi’s Encounter with Joseon: His Recognition of the Formative Beauty of the East
3. Yanagi’s Interest in the Arts of the Neighboring Countries and His Notion of Mingei

*image(left)
Miezu (patter samplc), 19c, Japan

Courtesy of Yanagi Muneyoshi and National Museum of Contemporary art, Korea