GO FOR KOGEI 2025 Symposium

This symposium celebrates the vibrant creativity of contemporary artists breaking gender barriers and crossing boundaries in Japanese craft. It forms part of the 2025 edition of the Go for Kogei project, which in recent years has presented a series of exhibitions and symposia interrogating the cultural norms and practices of ‘Japanese craft’ from the perspective of the Hokuriku region in Japan, and in a 21st-century global context. The symposium seeks to interrogate existing ideas of ‘Japanese craft’ and ‘Japanese tradition’, particularly foregrounding women artists and makers who are working outside institutions. It responds to changes arising through contemporary debate and activism to present a more expansive consideration of ‘crafts’. Featuring a range of speakers – including successful women artists, subculture and diaspora artists, V&A contributors and other experts on craft – the symposium aims to open up new understandings of the seemingly familiar topic of Japanese craft to new perspectives and new audiences.