Exhibition “The Lacquer Road Project 2026″
Exhibition: 10 AM – 06 PM, 13 – 28 Nov 2026
Talk & Exhibition Tour: 10 AM – 12 PM, Sun 15 Nov 2026
Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism
47 Hàng Dầu, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội
From the organizer:
The Vietnam – Japan Lacquer Road Exhibition is part of the “Craft Through the Streets” project curated by Nguyễn Tú Hằng, within the framework of the Hanoi Festival of Creative Design 2026 – “Thăng Long Kẻ Nghệ”, hosted by the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
In late September 2026, three Vietnamese artists – Trương Hoàng Hải, Đinh Công Đạt và Trần Thảo Miên – visited Wajima, a small city on the Noto Peninsula (Japan), where the Wajima-nuri lacquer craft has existed for over six centuries. For four days, they walked through workshops making wooden cores, applying cloth, carving chinkin, painting maki-e, and polishing roiro. They sat at the same table with artisans rebuilding their craft after the 2024 earthquake, holding knives and brushes right inside the craftsmen’s studios.
This exhibition marks the first time that what was sown in Noto has returned to Hanoi. It is the first outcome of a long-term collaborative project between Hanoi Grapevine and TAKI Corporation (Tokyo), aiming to connect Vietnamese lacquer art with Wajima-nuri, one of Japan’s most representative lacquer traditions. In the midst of a festival that uses craftsmanship as a foundation for urban creativity, the story of these two lacquer communities is also the story of how an ancient craft continues to live alongside its city.
The exhibition consists of three parts:
01 – Japan – Vietnam Art Exchange
New works and ideas from the three Vietnamese artists, shaped by their experiences in Wajima. Each artist approaches lacquer in their own way: material research, sculpture, weaving, and installation.
02 – Wajima: Cultural Heritage and the Journey of Recovery
The story of a land that has produced lacquer for hundreds of years, of crafting techniques passed down through generations, and of the power of culture in the post-disaster rebuilding process.
03 – Design, Technology, and the Future of Lacquer
Experiments in digitizing lacquerware into 3D models, along with design ideas that bring traditional techniques into modern life. This section opens up new possibilities for education and creativity.
Participating artists: Đinh Công Đạt (Artist), Trương Hoàng Hải (Artist/Lacquer Researcher), Katsuhiko Urade (Chairman of the Association for the Preservation of Wajima Lacquer Techniques, Living National Treasure), Kenji Fujii (Designer, TAKI Corporation), Trần Thảo Miên (Installation Artist).
How can tradition continue to live in the future?
Art and design do not merely create beautiful works. They also help us explore culture, connect people, and find ways to answer society’s challenges. The exhibition is open for free to everyone, especially students who want to learn about art, design, craftsmanship, and international cultural exchange. Come see, experience, and find inspiration for your own ideas.
Organizers: TAKI Corporation (Japan) & Hanoi Grapevine (Vietnam)
Part of: “Craft Through the Streets” Project – Hanoi Festival of Creative Design 2026 – “Thăng Long Kẻ Nghệ”
Producer: Ken Uchiyama · Creative Director: Kenji Fujii
Project Director & Coordinator: Lê Thu Hà · Production & Documentation Manager: Shuntaro Miyazaki
Coordinator & Researcher: Nguyễn Tú Hằng
Participating Artists:
Trương Hoàng Hải — independent lacquer artist, member of the De.lac group
Đinh Công Đạt — sculptor, blending contemporary art with techniques from various traditional craft villages
Trần Thảo Miên — textile & installation artist, co-founder of Collective Sonson and AiRViNe
The Living Lacquer — Nguyễn Đức Trí, Hoàng Thanh Huyền, Nguyễn Phương Thảo (3D lacquer digitization)
From Japan:
NUSHIYA — a company creating new value for Wajima lacquer, founded by Mayu Urade (2023)
Wajima lacquer artisans
Follow updates on event’s page.
