Pearl jewelry maker WSP collaborates with sculptor Taki Tamada to provide 3,000 pearls for the piece

Displayed at the art exhibition "Sculptor Taki Tamada: Sea Creatures from Cardboard Story"

Approximately 3,000 pearls that did not meet jewelry grade standards will be used in Tamada's artwork, which will be held at the Setouchi City Museum of Art (Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture) from Saturday, July 13, 2024.

This Love Our Nature campaign was launched under the slogan "Love nature! Love it as it is!" in order to discover the existence of unique pearls nurtured by the bountiful nature and to find new ways of using them. These pearls that do not meet the jewelry grade are called "Nature Pearls," and the campaign is an attempt to turn the unique characteristics of naturally shaped pearls into products other than jewelry.

Pearls, Japan's leading jewelry, attract people all over the world with their beauty and are highly regarded by global fashion brands. However, there are strict standards for them to be used as jewelry. Pearls are classified as Grade 1 or Grade 2 at the time of bidding, and are further subdivided according to size, color, shape, and damage condition before being distributed*1. Only about 13% of Japanese oysters are classified as Grade 1, which is suitable for high-grade jewelry*2, and only about 7% of hybrids with foreign Akoya oysters. It is because of this system that Japanese pearl jewelry is widely recognized as high quality. Generally, low-quality pearls that do not meet Grade 2 standards are not sold, and are used as ingredients for cosmetics and recycled nuclei*3.

We wanted to let many people know about the problems occurring in the marine environment and how important it is for Japan's pearl industry to keep the Japanese seas beautiful. Also, because pearls are jewelry produced from living creatures, each one has a different shape and color. Therefore, we asked Tamada, a sculptor who has breathed life into recycled cardboard and created many works that are full of life, to collaborate with unique Akoya pearls, which were not considered to be jewelry quality, and he readily agreed.

The art exhibition will run until Sunday, September 1, 2024.

*1 From the Fisheries Agency document: https://www.jfa.maff.go.jp/j/saibai/attach/pdf/shinju-31.pdf

*2 From Mie Prefecture documents: https://www.pref.mie.lg.jp/common/content/000393881.pdf

*3 From the National Research and Development Agency Fisheries Research Agency document: https://www.naro.go.jp/laboratory/brain/contents/koushihakentaisyo_48-1_suisan.pdf

■ Cardboard art making video

Starting Saturday, July 13th, the making-of video will be available on WSP's YouTube channel "enwsp."

https://www.youtube.com/@enwsp9983

■Profile of sculptor Taki Tamada

Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1983

Graduated from Tama Art University in 2007 with a degree in plastic arts.

Using only recycled cardboard, he creates three-dimensional works that uniquely capture the beauty and nature of living creatures.

He is also actively involved in exhibitions both in Japan and overseas, window displays, TV media and workshops.

He is also spreading his unique technique, which makes use of the strength and flexibility of cardboard, in art education settings.

■Setouchi City Museum of Art "Sculptor Taki Tamada: Sea Creatures from Cardboard Story" Exhibition

Now that SDGs have become a social theme, the exhibition will feature about 20 artworks with ocean themes, such as marine environmental issues and endangered species, made from 100% recyclable cardboard. This year is also a special year, marking the 90th anniversary of the designation of Setonaikai National Park, and will introduce more familiar environments, including exhibits related to marine pollution caused by abandoned boats, eelgrass cultivation, and artworks of the endangered finless porpoise.

For details, please visit https://www.city.setouchi.lg.jp/site/museum/