Who or What is PUNKESHI?
Adam Jaromir |
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Beautiful, but also unconventional and uncompromisingly cool—that's what our Kokeshi want to be. And so we decided on a name that is a resounding contradiction, a kind of oxymoron: on the one hand, playful sassiness and a touch of anarchy—who doesn't dream of going against the grain now and again?—on the other hand, there is the deep sense of tradition that Kokeshi represents as an art form with around 200 years of history.
And so we at PUNKESHI want to focus our attention on Kokeshi dolls that are characterised by both bold, innovative design and craftsmanship—and that deliberately break the mould.
Shingata Kokeshi, as an expression of an artistically free, modern style that emerged in the mid-20th century, can boast a whole series of such rebellious pioneers who were able to combine traditional craftsmanship with urban, contemporary design in a congenial way. Above all, the works of such outstanding Kokeshi artists as Hideo Ishihara, Tanaka Harumasa, and Aida Seiho inspired us to create PUNKESHI through their bold shapes and unique artistic expression.
Both NINA—our first own Kokeshi design, realised in collaboration with Noboru Wagatsuma—and our art project DADAKKO, which includes the unique, Kokeshi-inspired paintings by Gabriela Cichowska, are committed to this spirit.
Incidentally, DADAKKO was named after a Kokeshi doll of the same name, created in the 1970s by the Kokeshi artist Aida Seiho for his fabulous 'Yancha' やんちゃ (meaning naughty or mischievous) series. 'Dadakko' means something like "spoilt, naughty child" in Japanese. This cheeky figure with her unusual hairstyle clearly shows that Kokeshi can be much more than just 'kawaii' (meaning cute).
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We hope that you too will be inspired by the unconventional beauty and unconventional charm of our Kokeshi.
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Traditional Kokeshi Dolls by Noboru Wagatsuma
Even though our focus is on innovation, Kokeshi lovers will also regularly find traditional Kokeshi dolls by Noboru Wagatsuma in our range. A silent nod to the Togatta style, which is considered one of the oldest—if not the oldest—in the Kokeshi tradition. With great craftsmanship, Wagatsuma-san takes the characteristic features of this classic style and reinterprets them in a subtle and personalised way.
Discover the timeless elegance and subtle creative power of Noboru Wagatsuma's works—between tradition and artistic signature.