The oldest living organism on Earth is a tree. The oldest tree fossils are believed to be about 380 million years old, so trees have been around much longer than humans and will probably continue to do so when we are gone.
That means, quite naturally, wood has been the most readily available material ever since humans began making things with their hands in caves a long, long time ago. From firewood for starting a fire, to wooden boats and paper,
wood was the material most closely involved in human life and also a tool of art.

This way, woodcraft, which has long been a part of human history, does not lose the inherent properties of wood even when it is cut down, and still expands and contracts, providing inspiration for nature and life. It is also a special form of craft with an architectural aspect because it is often used to make furniture and fittings for living spaces.
As such, artists who study and deal with trees naturally include trees as a gigantic form of nature or architecture
that forms urban spaces, and they also accept the arduous labor of cutting and trimming wood as a process of
moderation and non-action. Like so, trees have a close resemblance to living nature, the universe, and us humans who reside on this particular planet within the cosmos.

This exhibition, Woods of Crafts, is organized into three parts featuring works by artists dealing with trees,
which humanity has lived with for a long time. Part 1, “Wise Roots,” showcases woodcraft that expresses nature and the source of life, as well as the works of artisans passed down from our ancestors for generations. Part 2, “Human-like Trees,” includes works by artists who communicate using living, breathing trees and art pieces that ponder the true essence of things.
In the final part, “Woods of Crafts,” you can get a glimpse into the colorful worldview of the artists in a space called “woods” where trees are packed together.

The Museum asked all twelve artists while they were preparing for this exhibition what their favorite tree was or
what type of wood they often used. Interestingly enough, all twelve artists gave different answers and reasons.
Each person looked at and thought about trees from their own perspective, and each was keen on cultivating a small forest that contained his/her own life and philosophy. We hope our exhibition gives you the opportunity to enjoy your own Woods of Crafts with each small and sophisticated forest made by our artists.