WHAT’S JOMON

“Jomon” is a term for the Japanese Neolithic culture which lasted from about 13,000 to 2,300 years ago. It is one of the world’ s earliest pottery and lacquerware cultures that lasted for about 10,000 years. In comparison with other European and Eurasian continental prehistoric cultures, the Jomon culture did employ fully developed agriculture nor did they raise livestock, did not conduct wars and lived in harmony with nature. Sharing beliefs in animism with other indigenous peoples across the world, the people of the Jomon period believed that spirits reside in all things in nature, and carried out prayer and conducted rituals. Clay figures called “dogu” in Japanese along with pottery were created with various designs and patterns amidst an everyday life rich with ritual and prayer. They are artistic expressions of a people who lived surrounded with the blessings with nature, and these expressions can be said to be the origin of Japanese art.

HISTORY OF JOMON

>> Incipient to Initial Stage >> Late to Final Stage Change in lifestyle caused by climate warming A wondrous period before the introduction of rice farming

The start of the Jomon Period dates back to the time when the Ice age neared its As climates cooled across the globe, many forests in end. The rising of the sea level began by climate warming, which separated the Japan experienced a loss in productivity. Many people islands of Japan from the Eurasian continent, and the coniferous forests which died due to the increased difficulty of obtaining food, and had covered the islands shifted into deciduous forests. As the environment magical practices took an active role in consoling people changed, allowing better access to foods such as tree nuts and wild plants, with difficult loss. Jewelry, masks, and patterns for amulets pottery developed to carry, cook, and preserve food. Eventually the Jomon were developed, and stone circles were erected in people’ s dwellings became permanent settlements across Japan. Kitchen northern Japan. Meanwhile, global cooling saw a decrease middens, or waste disposal areas were cordoned off, and social living based on in the sea level, causing alluvial plains to appear along the an organized system of rules began. coast, and eventually people’ s lifestyles shifted towards Pottery colored with a mix of lacquer andT he Komakino site in Aomori prefecture This mysterious shape of a World’ s oldest pot shard excavated in Many potteries from the early Jomon period being centered on rice farming. pigment. Presently, the use of lacquer is made up mainly of stone circle, the goggle-eyed clay figurine looks like Aomori prefecture have pointed bottoms, indicative that they has been dated to approximately 9000 momument served as a burial ground, a an alien and displays dynamic were partly buried in the ground when used years ago ritual and a ceremony. patterns all over the figure’ s body

Ca. 13,000 years ago Ca. 9,000 years ago Ca. 6,000 years ago Ca. 5,000 years ago Ca. 4,000 years ago Ca. 3,000 years ago Ca. 2,301 years ago Present

Paleolithic Period The Jomon Period( The New Stone Age ) The Yayoi Period

Incipient Stage Initial Stage Early Stage Middle Stage Late Stage Final Stage

Pottery and arrowheads Shell middens appear Chestnut cultivation spreads Long distance trading Stone circles appear Salt production begins Rice cultivation begins in Japan develop. Peoples begin becomes pronounced permanent settlements Communal burial Large scale settlements appear grounds develop Production of clay figures heightens

End of the Ice Age Climate warming Climate cooling

Rice cultivation begins Beginning of Chinese civilization Construction of the Hammurabi's Code Ancient Rome founded along the Yangtze River Great Pyramid at Giza compiled Beginning of Mesopotamian civilization Beginning of Indus civilization Shang Dynasty founded in China

>> Early to Middle Stage >> Present Day Art created by animistic spirituality The underlying Jomon sensibilities in Japanese people During the dark winter solstice, the sun dies and arises in spring. This is the ancient cosmology commonly shared across the world including Europe and China. The Jomon people were also aware of the laws which govern the cycles of nature including the Later, the people of Japan created a unique culture by their open embracing of various summer and winter solstices, and practiced festivals and prayers within their animistic cultures and values brought across the Eurasian continent and the Pacific Ocean and beliefs that everything possesses a soul or spirit. Alcohol production had been merging it with their own animistic traditions. The traditional aesthetics represented by developed, and perhaps rituals consisting of people gathered around a fire, offering the concept of “wabi-sabi” , recent concepts such as “Kawaii” , and fantastic artistic vibrant dances and prayers to the spirits were conducted. The various designs of clay expression used in manga, anime and video games can be seen as a series of steps. figurines and pottery unearthed all across Japan offer a glimpse into the great creativity An excellent example of this would be the heightened awareness of the natural world in of ancient people living in nature. They also serve as an expression of the artistic the animated films of the director Hayao Miyazaki. Jomon spirituality remains a strong YASUFUMI SOEJIMA sensibilities of the Japanese people. The Sannai-Maruyama site, a large scale settlement in Aomori City offering a look presence in the hearts of the Japanese people, and will continue to be an inspiration to The way of anthropomorphic expression used in Japanese animation, such as into the level of maturity of the culture through the remains of active trading and the world. animate power in mineral object and human character in animals, is based on religious rituals Animism started from Jomon age. ARTISTS Native Japanese Style

Jomon is the term for the Japanese Neolithic culture which lasted from about 145 B.C. to 3 B.C. It is one of the world’ s earliest pottery and lacquerware culture as well as the longest continuous culture in human history. Nowadays many artists in Japan have been inspired by the passionate Riyoo Kim Junpei Omori design of pottery and clay figures created by the Jomon culture. We call this style and art movement 1980 Born in Osaka as the son of a Japanese father and a Korean mother 2006 Earned his master’ s degree in the Department of Arts Production Research at Osaka 1979 Born in Nagoya, Japan “Jomonism” . University of Arts Graduate School 2003 Bachelors of Fine Arts in Ceramics, Kyoto Seika University 2007 Started his own business after completing his contract as an assistant at Osaka Public collection The cultural uniqueness of the Japanese archipelago comes from the long uninterrupted ethnic and University of Arts Keramik Museum / Denmark religious history of Japan, beginning in the Jomon period and leading up to the present. The Graduate School and currently lives in Osaka International Ceramic Research Center / Denmark 2011 Participated in Yokohama Triennale 2011 (Yokohama Museum of Art in Kanagawa) animism of the Jomon period remains a stark presence in the essence of Japanese spirituality, as http://omorijunpei.art758.com./ja/ http://www.riyookim.com/ symbolized by the word “Mottainai” , and the aesthetics represented by the concepts of wabi-sabi. “Jomon pottery are four dimensional sculptures, which easily transcend racial barriers, time and space” “The Power of Jomon!!!” The people of Japan, natives of the archipelago and throughout East Asia, created a unique culture by their open embracing of various cultures and values brought across the Eurasian continent and the Pacific Ocean, and merging it with their own animistic traditions. Recent aesthetic movements Fumihiko Sano Kazuhito Maekawa such as “Cool Japan” or “Kawaii” in addition to “Jomonism” can be seen as belonging to the same Fumihiko Sano was born in 1981 in Nara prefecture.He completed an apprenticeship at 1974 Born in Shinoyama city, Hyogo prefecture series of steps. the Sotoji Nakamura, a carpentry firm in Kyoto as a carpenter of tea ceremony houses. 2008 Admitted into the doctorate program of Osaka University of Arts Graduate After working for Atelier Tekuto and PPØMBLER, he founded Studio PHENOMENON. school early This “Jomonism” art exhibition here in Chelsea, NY, was made possible with the support of Aomori Fumihiko is working in various genres, including interior, product, and architectural 2011 Completed doctorate program of Osaka University of Arts Graduate school design, producing installations and furniture as a craftsman. 2011-Present Instructor at Osaka University of Arts, Correspondence Division Prefectural Government which aims to have the ” Hokkaido/Northern Tohoku Jomon Archaeological http://fumihikosano.jp/ Faculty of Arts Sites” , a collection of the leading Jomon culture historical sites, to be designated as a World http://www.kazbot.com/ Heritage Site. Aomori prefecture is one of the devastated areas affected by the Great East Japan “The originality of Japanese culture would never have developed without the consciousness that arose in the Jomon period.” “Show the magic and wonder of the Jomon to the world!” Earthquake and tsunami in 2011. We hope the energy of the art of “Jomonism” will encourage and motivate many people to overcome the difficulties caused by the disaster, and also the social and economic instabilities across the globe, to create a whole new generation, and prosper. Jin Katagiri Kazuki Umezawa Organizer JOMONISM, Incorporated NPO Jin Katagiri is an actor. He formed the comedy group “Ramens” when he was an art college student, which became widely popular with its unique views of the world. Now Katagiri is active on the stage, dramas, movies and radio as well as creating clay works. He held the exhibition “Jindiana Jones / Treasure of Deep Emotion” in Shibuya, Tokyo and in Aomori. Presented by Arts of JOMON Production Partnership Sponsored by “I’m thinking about the relationship between my works which worship the ocean known In association with A omori Prefecture “Just like being enamored by Gundam or robots, I lose myself in the forms of the Jomon.” as the internet, and the Jomon culture which worshipped the earth.” Under the auspice of As sociation of People from Aomori Prefecture Assisted by T A T AM I. BRAND-New

Kazumichi Maruoka Ryuichi Sakai Taketo Kobayashi & 1984 Born in Saga prefecture 1978 Born in Hiroshima prefecture, and living in Tokyo, he creates works using skulls 2005 Graduated the Japanese Painting Program, Department of Art in the Faculty of Arts Yoshinori Sakamaki a.k.a. Sense and bones motifs. and Design of Onomichi City University 2012 Solo Exhibition “CHAREKOBE” at SHUHALLY (Kannai, Kanagawa) 2008 Graduated the Japanese Painting Program, Department of Art Research, The artistic collaboration of Sense, who instantaneously produces designs which may Solo Exhibition “NEONTHANATOS” at ABYDOS (Harajuku, Tokyo) Graduate School of Omomich City University look organic and yet mechanical, with a drawing method of increasing the “form” Solo Exhibition “ANTI-DEATH” (Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo) Solo Exhibition ” TWS-Emerging / Re-birth” (Tokyo Wonder Site Hongo) improvisationally, and Taketo Kobayashi, a specialist of modeling 3-D computer http://www.kazumichimaruoka.com/ http://sakairyuichi.jimdo.com/ graphics. The sense of modern Japanese designs are added to the spirituality of Jomon, producing works linking to the future. “I adore the clay figures and pottery from the Jomon period.” “I want share the magical charm of the Jomon culture with all.” “The shapes of Jomon design express the free form of spirit.Ancient is modern. We are always connected.Let us sublimate this ancient spirituality to the future.” Masaya Kushino SHOHEI

SHOHEI was born in Tokyo in 1980. After graduating from the art college, he started his Masaya Kushino studied in Italy since 2004, and received his diploma in the fashion career as a freelance illustrator. He uses ball-point pens for many of his illustrations. design maste’rs course at “Istituto MARANGONI” in Milano. He won the 1st prize in “Jila His art collection “57577” was published by ERECT Magazine. Leather Goods Award 2007”. As the brand “Masaya Kushin”o, he produces shoes and http://www.hakuchi.jp/ bags by mainly using leather. http://www.masayakushino.jp/ “I’m drawing in a frame of mind to stand proudly and proclaim my message, Yoshinori Sakamaki a.k.a. Sense from Japan to overseas, and from overseas to Japan. The more I study, the more Jomon “You can’t talk about ornamentation without knowing the Jomon!” becomes awesome.”

Meguru Yamaguchi Souryou Matsumura Yumiko Shinozaki Meguru Yamaguchi, originally from Shibuya, Tokyo, was born in 1984. Currently he lives Souryou Matsumura was born in 1975 in Yokohama. He is an associate professor of Urasenke School of Tea Ceremony. After receiving his MBA in 2004, he enrolled in the Urasenke School for Tea Ceremony in NY. His works are made of numerous layers of acrylics, sprays, broken glass and 1987 Born in Fukuoka prefecture Studies. After graduating, Souryou founded the tea ceremony school “SHUHA”. LTLhYe main tea room resins. By cutting and pasting diversified cultures and communication, which can be 2012 Graduated from the Ceramic Arts Program of Osaka University of Arts Graduate “Bunsai-an”, named by the 16th Urasenke Master Sabosai, received the Good Design Award of 2010. School and is currently creating works in Fukuoka prefecture recognized in various aspects, he produces landscapes that serve as their epitome. http://www.shuhally.jp/ http://www.meguruyamaguchi.com/ “Yumiko Shiozaki Exhibition - Oh my god AGAPE!!! ‒ ” at Bunsai-an, SHUHALLY (Yokohama) http://www.facebook.com/yumiko.shinozaki.3 “Tea ceremony is essentially gathering around a fire with good company, enjoying conversation, “Taro Okamoto, who was a great inspiration to me, was also creating Jomon art themed appreciating the tea utensils, and cherishing this time which will never come again. I assume that the “I’ m attracted to the nice-looking curvaceous bodies on Jomon period clay figures. works. My works here were done with a strong consciousness of his work.” people of the Jomon period also shared similar moments.” Voluptuousness is timeless and cosmopolitan!!”

JOMONISM WORKS

ART WEB JOMO-T Exhibition JOMON SPIRIT TJOMON SPIRIT is a website introducing contemporary Jomon art This T-shirt exhibition was held in 2010 at the Laforet Museum Harajuku, under the idea of “making a happier future through feeling Jomon” . a center of the pop culture in Tokyo. 61 artists including actors, graphic Jomon, a word which tended to be restricted to only the field of designers, illustrators, and photographers who responded to the call to archeology, can now be enjoyed in the context of images, graphics, “bring Jomon energy to the streets” designed their own T-shirts, which music, essays and cooking. Works on the website include the artworks were displayed and sold. An exhibition of work from the public was also of EYE, a member of the music group BOREDOMS, known for their held at this time. primitive sound. This website is in Japanese only. http://www.jomon-spirit.com/

MUSIC FESTIVAL Feel the Roots Since 2009, “Feel the Roots” , an outdoor music festival has been held at the Sannai-Maruyama Historical Site, the leading Jomon historic site out of Tohoku and Aomori Prefecture. Live performances of rock and dance music set in front of a backdrop of the site’ s iconic and huge Jomon period monument, the “Large Pillar-supported Structure” is a spectacular sight to behold. The event also offers a wide selection of various workshops for all ages to enjoy Jomon culture.