Event category: Type

Film Night

The Lotus and the Swan

FILM

Thursday 27 June 2024

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Join us for the UK premiere screening of Nirmal Chander’s The Lotus and the Swan. 

For the Gallery’s June Film Night, see Nirmal Chander’s documentary The Lotus and the Swan, spotlighting the inspiring tale of Sardar Gurcharan Singh, founder of Delhi Blue Pottery in India. Afterwards, you will have a chance to see his work on display as part of our Art Without Heroes: Mingei exhibition.

The Lotus and the Swan (2023)

Directed by Nirmal Chander. Produced by Delhi Blue Pottery Trust.

“​Hands destined to mould a thing of beauty​”.

Thus wrote James Cousins, eminent writer, of a young Sikh potter he met in Japan in 1922. The film celebrates the life and legacy of S​ardar Gurcharan Singh​, the father of studio pottery in India. Daddyji, as he came to be fondly called, introduced ​the ​underpaid and undervalued craft of pottery to the imagination of the ​Indian ​​mass​es​ with plates, jugs and teapots, ensur​ing that ​colour and beauty ​are accessible to everybody.

71 mins. With English subtitles.

About Nirmal Chander:

Nirmal Chander has worked in the field of non-fiction since 1996 as editor, director and producer. He has directed more than 10 documentaries and has over thirty editing credits. His films have travelled to many international festivals, winning multiple awards and receiving appreciation for their choice and presentation of characters, storytelling skills and humanistic approach. Some of his films have been telecast on BBC Online and Indian TV channels such as NDTV and Doordarshan. He is the recipient of three National Film Awards from the President of India for excellence in cinema and his documentary Moti Bagh was an Oscar entry from India in 2019.

Nirmal Chander
Nirmal Chander, Director

This event forms part of the Mingei on the Move public programme, designed in response to the Gallery’s Art Without Heroes: Mingei exhibition. The programme spotlights the diasporic nature of Mingei and why artists from all cultures and backgrounds are continually inspired by the movement’s ethos.

Image: Still from The Lotus and the Swan, Nirmal Chander

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Mingei / Art Without Heroes – Panel discussion

London Craft Week 2024

A deep dive into our new book Mingei: Art Without Heroes with its editor Roisin Ingleby, William Morris Gallery Curator, and contributors Aaron Angell and Dasom Sung.

Talks and Discussions
Wednesday 15 May 2024
The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer by Kelmscott Press.

Mini Morris

We love books!

WORKSHOPS

Thursday 18 April 2024

Home / What's on/ Mini Morris

Mini Morris. Toddler-friendly crafting for 2-5 year olds.

In April we’re sharing William Morris’s love of books. Did you know he wrote one of the longest poems in the English Language? He set up his own printing company and produced beautifully designed books. Join us to make a print block based on the tale of Chanticleer and the Fox from the Kelmscott Chaucer to print on a small bag.

Mini Morris sessions are now DROP IN ONLY at both 10am and 1pm. FREE. Donations welcome.

As this can be a messy session, please wear or bring old clothes. Aprons are available.

All sessions include a tour of the Gallery, the craft activity, singing and snack time

Two shadow puppets in black against a white background. A teapot and a cup, each with feet.

Family Day

Shadow Puppet Tsukumogami Theatre

WORKSHOPS

Saturday 20 April 2024

Home / What's on/ Family Day

An adventure in Japanese folklore.

In Japanese folklore, when an everyday object is over 99 years old it can gain a spirit. The spirit brings the object to life and gives it a mischievous nature. This concept is known as tsukumogami.

For our April Family Day we’re inviting you to step into the enchanting world of Japanese folklore as you design and create your own tsukumogami shadow puppets. From teapots to tongs, be inspired by the everyday objects in our latest exhibition, Art Without Heroes: Mingei.

The activity is suitable for children aged 5+ years.

All materials will be provided.

Activities will take place in the Gallery’s first floor lounge.

All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Family Box clothes donations please!

Our Family Box contains all the essentials you may need for your under 5s when visiting the Gallery. We have nappies, wipes, bibs and spare clothes as well as sanitary items for yourself. These are free and available for anyone who needs them. Just ask at reception or the learning team during activities.

This Family Day we’re requesting under 5s clothes donations, if you have any items to spare. We always like to ensure that we include re-used and recycled products to reduce waste as much as possible. We’re currently looking for:

  • 0-3 month vests, 8 needed
  • 3-6 month vests, 6 needed
  • 6-9 month vests, 6 needed
  • 12-18 month vests, 4 needed
  • 18-24 vests, 4 needed
  • 2-3 years trousers/tops – 4 sets needed
  • 3-4 years trousers/tops – 4 sets needed

Clothes need to be clean and in reasonable condition. Please give your donations to the front desk on arrival or to the activities team on the day.

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The largest ever exhibition in the UK dedicated to Mingei, the influential Japanese folk-craft movement of the 1920s and 1930s.

Current exhibition
Saturday 23 March - Sunday 22 September 2024
Sashiko embroidery in a circular pattern (Japanese technique) joining 3 pieces of material together (3 shades of blue fabric)

Sashiko & Sip

Hosted by Mika Sembongi

WORKSHOPS

Thursday 25 April 2024

Home / What's on/ Sashiko & Sip

A relaxed evening of sashiko stitching and sipping sake inspired by the Art Without Heroes: Mingei exhibition. 

Literally meaning ‘little stabs’, sashiko is a method of sewing together one or more layers of cloth with running stitch. Used to reinforce fabric to make it last longer, the technique is characterised by distinctive stitching patterns. 

Hosted by Mika Sembongi of the Monday Mending Club, participants have the opportunity to explore various sashiko patterns, spanning from AI-generated William Morris designs to the traditional Uroko and Shippō stitches. All alongside some sake or a non-alcoholic substitute. 

Please book for your one-hour sashiko slot (6pm, 7pm or 8pm). You are welcome to come any time between 6pm – 9pm as there will also be a chance to see the exhibition, have a drink and try some basket weaving on our first-floor lounge. 

About the artist:

Born in Japan, Mika brings Manga influences to her hand printed designs and is highly skilled in the traditional mending technique, sashiko. Mika co-runs The Monday Mending Club, a monthly social sewing night at Big Penny Social, and holds monthly family sewing mornings at Leyton Green Studios, which aim to encourage families to enjoy mending clothing together as a weekend activity. 

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The largest ever exhibition in the UK dedicated to Mingei, the influential Japanese folk-craft movement of the 1920s and 1930s.

Current exhibition
Saturday 23 March - Sunday 22 September 2024

Anti-Poetry Workshop

With WalthamScribe

WORKSHOPS

Sunday 7 April 2024

Home / What's on/ Anti-Poetry Workshop

Experiment, challenge, and redefine the art of verse.

Are you ready to break free from the conventional boundaries of poetry and explore the captivating world of anti-poetry?

Join WalthamScribe for an immersive workshop at William Morris Gallery, designed for adults seeking to embrace the unconventional.

Anti-poetry is a revolutionary form of expression that defies traditional poetic norms. It celebrates the beauty in chaos, the profound in the mundane, and the rebellion against conventional language structures. Through anti-poetry, participants have the freedom to experiment, challenge, and redefine the art of verse.

Led by local anti-hero Fletch Fletcher.

Organised by WalthamScribe, currently in residency at William Morris Gallery. WalthamScribe is a creative writing group that explores different forms of storytelling in guided workshop sessions around Waltham Forest.

Mingei Art Without Heroes Book Cover

Mingei / Art Without Heroes – Panel discussion

London Craft Week 2024

TALKS AND DISCUSSIONS

Wednesday 15 May 2024

Home / What's on/ Mingei / Art Without Heroes – Panel discussion

A deep dive into our new book Mingei / Art Without Heroes with Roisin Inglesby, William Morris Gallery Curator, and contributors Yuko Kikuchi, Aaron Angell and Dasom Sung. Chaired by Tomo Yoshizawa. For London Craft Week 2024.

Join us for an exciting evening exploring and expanding on the themes of the book, Mingei / Art Without Heroes. 

Originating in Japan in the 1920s, the Mingei movement was based on the principle that beauty is inherent in handmade, everyday objects created by anonymous craftspeople. Spearheaded by the philosopher Yanagi Sōetsu, and potters Hamada Shōji and Bernard Leach, the movement sought to elevate the status of folk craft in a rapidly modernising society.

Mingei / Art Without Heroes covers a wide range of objects associated with Mingei, from ceramics and furniture to textiles and toys, alongside a series of profiles of leading designers and makers working in Japan today. Contributors from a variety of backgrounds explore Mingei’s origins, interpretations and contemporary implications, shedding new light on the ways in which the principles of the movement remain relevant to today’s personal, social and environmental concerns.

This event forms part of the Mingei on the Move public programme, designed in response to the Gallery’s Art Without Heroes: Mingei exhibition. The programme spotlights the diasporic nature of Mingei and why artists from all cultures and backgrounds are continually inspired by the movement’s ethos.

  • 6pm – 6:30pm Doors Open
  • 6:30pm – 7:30pm Panel Discussion
  • 7:30pm – 9pm Private View

Mingei / Art Without Heroes is edited by Roisin Inglesby and published by Yale University Press. Read more about the book here.

Tomo Yoshizawa is a journalist and cultural translator, based in Japan.

In collaboration with The Japan Foundation.

Supporters and partners

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Saturday 23 March - Sunday 22 September 2024

Special curator-led tour of Art Without Heroes: Mingei

TOURS

Thursday 19 September 2024

Home / What's on/ Special curator-led tour of Art Without Heroes: Mingei

Visit William Morris Gallery for a special curator-led tour of Art Without Heroes: Mingei.

Art Without Heroes: Mingei is the largest ever exhibition in the UK dedicated to Mingei, the influential folk-craft movement that developed in Japan in the 1920s and 1930s. With works including ceramics, woodwork, paper, toys, textiles, photography and film, the exhibition will incorporate unseen pieces from significant private collections in the UK and Japan, along with museum loans and historic footage from the Mingei Film Archive.

See the exhibition with one of our curators as your guide.

Read more about the exhibition here.

Image: Ikupasuy (Ainu language, prayer stick). Image © National Museums Scotland

Related events

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The largest ever exhibition in the UK dedicated to Mingei, the influential Japanese folk-craft movement of the 1920s and 1930s.

Current exhibition
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Special curator-led tour of Art Without Heroes: Mingei

TOURS

Thursday 25 July 2024

Home / What's on/ Special curator-led tour of Art Without Heroes: Mingei

Visit William Morris Gallery for a special curator-led tour of Art Without Heroes: Mingei.

Art Without Heroes: Mingei is the widest-ranging exhibition in the UK dedicated to Mingei, the influential folk-craft movement that developed in Japan in the 1920s and 1930s. With works including ceramics, woodwork, paper, toys, textiles, photography and film, the exhibition incorporates unseen pieces from significant private collections in the UK and Japan, along with museum loans and historic footage from the Mingei Film Archive.

See the exhibition with one of our curators as your guide.

Read more about the exhibition here.

Image: From the collections of the Crafts Study Centre, University for the Creative Arts.

Related events

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The largest ever exhibition in the UK dedicated to Mingei, the influential Japanese folk-craft movement of the 1920s and 1930s.

Current exhibition
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Special curator-led tour of Art Without Heroes: Mingei

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Thursday 27 June 2024

Home / What's on/ Special curator-led tour of Art Without Heroes: Mingei

Visit William Morris Gallery for a special curator-led tour of Art Without Heroes: Mingei.

Art Without Heroes: Mingei is the largest ever exhibition in the UK dedicated to Mingei, the influential folk-craft movement that developed in Japan in the 1920s and 1930s. With works including ceramics, woodwork, paper, toys, textiles, photography and film, the exhibition will incorporate unseen pieces from significant private collections in the UK and Japan, along with museum loans and historic footage from the Mingei Film Archive.

See the exhibition with one of our curators as your guide.

Read more about the exhibition here.

Image: Bowl, Raku type earthenware with clear glaze over decoration painted in enamel colours, Japan, Tokyo, by Tomimoto Kenkichi, 1912. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Related events

Art Without Heroes

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The largest ever exhibition in the UK dedicated to Mingei, the influential Japanese folk-craft movement of the 1920s and 1930s.

Current exhibition
Saturday 23 March - Sunday 22 September 2024

Special curator-led tour of Art Without Heroes: Mingei

TOURS

Thursday 16 May 2024

Home / What's on/ Special curator-led tour of Art Without Heroes: Mingei

Visit William Morris Gallery for a special curator-led tour of Art Without Heroes: Mingei.

Art Without Heroes: Mingei is the largest ever exhibition in the UK dedicated to Mingei, the influential folk-craft movement that developed in Japan in the 1920s and 1930s. With works including ceramics, woodwork, paper, toys, textiles, photography and film, the exhibition will incorporate unseen pieces from significant private collections in the UK and Japan, along with museum loans and historic footage from the Mingei Film Archive.

See the exhibition with one of our curators as your guide.

Read more about the exhibition here.

Image: Six-fold screen, stencilled and resist-dyed silk on a wooden frame showing a map of Okinawa, by Serizawa Keisuke (1895-1984), Japan, ca.1940. © Serizawa Keiko. Victoria and Albert Museum

Related events

Art Without Heroes

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The largest ever exhibition in the UK dedicated to Mingei, the influential Japanese folk-craft movement of the 1920s and 1930s.

Current exhibition
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