Inspired by the 19th century Arts and Crafts movement in Europe, the concept of Mingei (民芸), was established in 1925 by the Japanese philosopher and aesthete, Sōetsu Yanagi (1889–1961) together with potters Kanjiro Kawai and Shoji Hamada. Variously translated into English as “folk crafts” or “popular art”, the name derives from the Japanese words “minshu” (people) and “kogei” (crafts).

The philosophical ethos of Mingei champions the everyday, ordinary and utilitarian objects created by nameless and unknown craftsmen. 

The late rediscovery in contemporary art of certain traditional techniques such as ceramics, baskets or weavings that were crucial in the Mingei movement allows the exhibition to juxtapose historical and contemporary works. If the Mingei movement was essentially Japanese, Mingei Asia features works from all the continent. The exhibition puts in parallel historical pieces from Japanese Mingei craftsmen with modern and contemporary Asian artists inspired by Mingei. This is the 5th Mingei related project organized by Nicolas Trembley and the first in Paris.