Living Hands

Experience the living spirit of Japanese craftsmanship—right here in Bali.

Join us for Living Hands, a one-day-only exhibition and cultural program where Japan’s leading enduring artisans bring their work to life through live demonstrations, workshops, and exhibition of craft rooted in nature, tradition, and renewal.
From hand-forged blacksmithing to botanical-dyed silk, lacquerware, and the grace of the Japanese tea ceremony, this is your chance to witness, learn, and connect with centuries-old practices shaping a more mindful future.

Guest Artists

• Yumi Komori – Fashion Designer (MORI WO ORU)
• Takuya Tsutsumi – Lacquer Artist (Asakichi Tsutsumi Lacquer Shop/Perspective Co-Chairman)
• Shinya Kobayashi – Founder of MUJUN, Blacksmith / Artist / Designer
• Souryou Matsumura – Tea Master

Workshops

Tea Ceremony 

By Tea Master Souryou Matsumura 

Step into a quiet ritual where each gesture carries intention and grace. Rooted in Zen, Sadō is more than the act of serving tea — it is a meditation on presence, breath, and stillness. In this intimate gathering, a bowl of tea becomes an offering of care, season, and spirit. Much like Bali’s own sacred rhythms, it invites us to pause, to meet one another with reverence, and to simply be.

Souryou Matsumura is a next-generation tea master and Associate Professor of Urasenke, as well as the representative of SHUHALLY tea school. His journey into Sadō began after living in Europe, where a growing curiosity about his cultural roots brought him back to Japan and into the world of tea. Known for his fresh approach and motto “making tea more free and fun,” he has led ceremonies in over 10 countries, including at prime ministerial residences, and has collaborated across disciplines—from contemporary art and butoh to manga and beatboxing. He is also a featured expert on NHK’s Kiwamebito and a speaker at TEDxTokyo.

Workshop Structure:

• Introduction (5 min)
  • What is the Way of Tea?
  • Introduction to key tools
• Demonstration & Practice (15 min)
  •  Short-format tea ceremony demonstration
  • Hands-on experience (tea whisking, offering, receiving)
• Craft Connection Talk (5 min)
  • The meaning behind each material and object
  • How they are made / who made them
• Reflection & Sharing (5 min)
  • A quiet space for conversation and contemplation
  • Visitors may write or share their thoughts

Kyoto Botanical Dye Workshop

By Designer Yumi Komori – MORI WO ORU 

Discover the gentle art of botanical dyeing with plant-based pigments from Kyoto—a region where nature and craft are deeply entwined. Guided by a Japanese dye artisan Yumi Komori, you'll explore the history of silk in Japan, learn the unique qualities of Shinmayo dye, and create your own silk scarf through folding, binding, and immersion. More than a decorative act, natural dyeing is a meditative process—a quiet dialogue with plant, fabric, and water. Each piece becomes a reflection of the moment, carrying the beauty of impermanence.

MORI WO ORU, led by fashion designer Yumi Komori, is a regenerative fashion and art project that breathes new life into Japan’s silk-weaving heritage. Rooted in the belief that clothing can connect all living things, the project traces the full life cycle—from planting mulberry trees and raising silkworms to weaving and dyeing silk with natural pigments. Inspired by the traditional satoyama culture where humans live in harmony with nature, MORI WO ORU reimagines craft as a co-creation with the earth—honoring the quiet rhythms of forests, rivers, and seasons through garments that embody the interdependence of all life.

Workshop Structure:

• Introduction (5–10 min)
  • History of silk in Japan
  • The meaning and use of Shinmayo dye
• Demonstration & Hands-on Workshop (70–90 min)
  • Design planning and dyeing process
  • Create and dye your own silk scarf
• Reflection & Sharing (5–10 min)
  • A quiet moment for contemplation and conversation
  • Visitors may write or share their thoughts

Fuki-Urushi Workshop: Polishing Time into Wood 

By Lacquer Artist Takuya Tsutsumi (Asakichi Tsutsumi Lacquer Shop / Perspective Co-Chairman)

Enter the world of fuki-urushi, a quiet Japanese tradition of finishing wood with natural lacquer. In this hands-on session, you’ll learn to apply and polish raw urushi sap using cloth — a slow, meditative process that reveals the natural grain while protecting the wood with a soft, organic sheen.

Unlike glossy commercial lacquerware, fuki-urushi creates a finish that deepens with time, bearing the subtle imprint of use and memory. Working with solid wood, natural lacquer, and handmade cloth, you’ll be guided by Takuya Tsutsumi, a fourth-generation lacquer artisan from Kyoto’s renowned Asakichi Tsutsumi Lacquer Shop, founded in 1909. Through his work—ranging from cultural restoration to bold crossovers like SURF x Urushi, BMX x Urushi, and SKATE x Urushi—Takuya breathes new life into an ancient craft, blending heritage with innovation.