In the year of the European Capital of Culture the House of Arts Veszprém joins a great initiative, the Sakura Project, which aims not only to create a Japanese garden and plant Japanese cherry trees in Veszprém, but also to promote and raise awareness of Japanese culture. The Japanese garden in June will be designed by a Japanese landscape architect and will be linked to two seasonal Japanese holidays: the sakura (cherry blossom) to the hanami (cherry blossom viewing) in April and the momiji (Japanese maple) to the koyo (autumn colourful leaves) in October.
As part of the project an exhibition entitled The Circle of Life, a joint exhibition by Anna Révész, visual artist and Réka Tóth-Vásárhelyi, applied artist will be held in the first floor exhibition space of Dubniczay Palace.
Anna Révész was born in Hida-Osaka, Japan (her father is Hungarian), later moved to Hungary and graduated from the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, where she was awarded the Derkovits Scholarship. Her paintings in gansai watercolour, a very delicate technique, are mainly concerned with "mujo", the idea of impermanence, which is closely linked to Japanese aesthetics and Buddhism. It is about accepting the constant change of life, so that the passing and the birth of the new are closely linked. In addition to her series the exhibition will also feature her unique diploma work, which was created on an original 19th century Japanese screen, and is unique in that as the screen is covered in silver smoke, it reacts with the sulphur in the air and becomes blackened over time causing the image to disappear, thus also connecting to the idea of the mujo. In her paintings, harmony with nature, plants and animals (such as the rabbit and the deer), which also have sacred meanings play an important role.
Réka Tóth-Vásárhelyi continued her studies in Hungary, Austria and Japan. Here she learned from Japanese masters how to make creative kokeshi dolls. These dolls are true masterpieces of craftsmanship, dating back centuries and are considered to be a typical Japanese creation. A kokeshi is a wooden doll, mostly painted, without hands and feet, with a cylindrical body. They are usually used as ornaments in homes, but some legends say they also have protective and healing powers. Kokeshis are most often made from the so-called mizuki wood, a light, almost snow-white wood. But other woods are also used, such as Japanese maple, cherry, Japanese pear… Réka Tóth-Vásárhelyi wants to bring the cultures of Japan and Hungary closer together through her kokeshi dolls, and "wants to open people's hearts to love and respect the natural, simple gifts of life." She has exhibited and performed in many countries from Japan to America. She has written bilingual storybooks and since 2011 has made over 5,000 kokeshi dolls, which have won numerous awards, including the first ever foreigner to win a prize for a kokeshi doll at the 57th Japan National Kokeshi Competition in 2015.Réka Tóth-Vásárhelyi continued her studies in Hungary, Austria and Japan. Here she learned from Japanese masters how to make creative kokeshi dolls. These dolls are true masterpieces of craftsmanship, dating back centuries and are considered to be a typical Japanese creation. A kokeshi is a wooden doll, mostly painted, without hands and feet, with a cylindrical body. They are usually used as ornaments in homes, but some legends say they also have protective and healing powers. Kokeshis are most often made from the so-called mizuki wood, a light, almost snow-white wood. But other woods are also used, such as Japanese maple, cherry, Japanese pear… Réka Tóth-Vásárhelyi wants to bring the cultures of Japan and Hungary closer together through her kokeshi dolls, and "wants to open people's hearts to love and respect the natural, simple gifts of life." She has exhibited and performed in many countries from Japan to America. She has written bilingual storybooks and since 2011 has made over 5,000 kokeshi dolls, which have won numerous awards, including the first ever foreigner to win a prize for a kokeshi doll at the 57th Japan National Kokeshi Competition in 2015.
The Sakura Project was conceived and organized by Tomoko Morita, head of the Japanese Centre in Veszprém and private teacher of the Japanese language.
The project is supported by Minerva Learning Alternative, EU-Japan Fest, Gifu County Japan-Hungarian Friendship Society, M-MATCHA Ltd. and Veszprém-Balaton 2023 European Capital of Culture.
