Silver Grass Under the Moon

A full moon glows above silver grass, capturing the stillness of autumn and the quiet movement of the breeze. This piece, crafted by maki-e artist Hariya Masayuki, brings that scene to life with luminous detail.

Acrylic was chosen for the way it reveals the design through the translucent surface. The silver grass (susuki in Japanese) appears to ripple beneath the moon, which seems to float above it, creating a landscape inspired by traditional Japanese painting.

The design employs the decorative lacquerware techniques of both hira maki-e and harikiri. The hira maki-e technique involves painting patterns in lacquer, sprinkling gold or silver powder before it hardens, then coating with clear lacquer and polishing to create a smooth, luminous surface. This method gives the decoration its shimmering presence. The harikiri technique, in which lines are incised with a fine needle-like tool, is used for the silver grass, capturing its rhythm and delicacy.

From the exterior, the moon appears silver, while from within, it glows golden. The delicate sparkle of the grass tips evokes dewdrops, rendered with silver powder to evoke the soft glow of moonlight. Hariya notes that he chose the materials with the shifting light of the moon in mind, aiming to suggest the brilliance of a midnight sky.

By layering traditional methods onto a modern medium, Hariya pursues new expressions of maki-e. This work brings a breath of freshness to the art of lacquerware.

Hariya Masayuki

Hariya Masayuki is a maki-e artist specializing in Yamanaka lacquerware. Raised in a family of artisans, Hariya grew up surrounded by the tools and materials of the trade. This environment gave him an early and intimate familiarity with the world of craftsmanship. In his late teens, he encountered the works of Japan’s designated Holders of Important Intangible Cultural Heritage, such as Matsuda Gonroku and Terai Naoji, at a museum in Kanazawa Prefecture, an experience that sparked his lifelong fascination with maki-e. 

Hariya faithfully preserves traditional techniques, while also incorporating modern materials and ideas. In doing so, he expands lacquer art beyond its conventional boundaries and opens up new creative possibilities.

Yamanaka Lacquerware

Yamanaka lacquerware, also known as Yamanaka Shikki, is a kind of lacquerware produced in the Yamanaka Onsen district of Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture. This lacquerware is unique in that it blends wood grain's natural elegance with the elegant maki-e technique of sprinkling gold, silver, or other colored powder onto a lacquer painting.

With its beautiful wood texture, delicate and robust Yamanaka lacquerware incorporates a modern sense of design while inheriting a tradition that has lasted for 400 years.