This Is Lacquer Like You’ve Never Seen It | Mine Tanigawa’s Japanese Urushi Sculptures

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This film follows her meticulous process – from watercolour sketches and digital refinement to the careful layering, curing, and polishing of lacquer. 

Her work captures urushi in motion, expressing its fluid nature through forms inspired by flowing water, drifting clouds, and the landscapes of southern Kyoto.

We also visit Tsutsumi Asakichi Urushi, a traditional lacquer supplier, to see how raw sap is refined, coloured, and prepared using time-honoured techniques and machinery.

Once limited to just five natural colours, modern urushi now offers a rich palette, yet remains deeply rooted in tradition. 

Each sculpture takes around three months to complete, with countless layers, polishing stages, and precise environmental control required to achieve its flawless finish.

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See this piece in the "Urushi Now: Contemporary Japanese Lacaquer" display at the V&A South Kensington in London until April 30, 2027.