Mesmerizing Interlocking Geometric Patterns Produced with Japanese Woodworking(www.smithsonianmag.com)
133 pointsby pseudolus2 days ago10 comments
  • paulgerhardt2 days ago
    This is one of those things I would recommend trying yourself for the full experience. I visited an exhibition on woodworking at the Japan House on high street and they were selling kits similar to this [1][2]. It was a very fun, soothing, asmr-style experience assembling them. Sadly I was unable to find more kits when I was in Japan last, but it has inspired me to get into the hobby of crafting them from scratch.

    [1] https://pojstudio.com/products/kumiko-coaster-kit

    [2] https://a.co/d/5zRbxp6

    • Dunana day ago
      I live in a neighborhood in central Tokyo where there are classes that teach this technique, out of one of the very few pre-war houses still standing.

      We signed up for a class sort of at random and ended up making beautiful panels like the ones you see in the pictures. Attached them to handmade "washi" paper and made a lamp screen as a housewarming gift for my sibling.

    • robocata day ago
      The https://pojstudio.com/products/kumiko-coaster-kit video is really good at showing how the kumiko bits slot together.
    • JKCalhoun2 days ago
      Thanks. I have watched a few YouTube videos of people doing this beginning with just the wood (I happen to have a lot of wood working tools already). I would like to make a lamp/lantern some day.
  • mikhailfranco2 days ago
    Reminds me of Islamic Mashrabiya screens.

    https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Mashrabiya&ia=images&iax=images

    Historically, the screens were quite simple, with more complex patterns reserved for ceramic tilings (symmetry groups, colorings, knots and intertwinings). Now there are good modern screens with more innovative patterns, made with computer-controlled laser cutters.

    In a quick search for Kumiko examples, I very much like the irregular patterns that add or remove various symmetrical elements across the piece, often in an irregular macro-pattern. Similar pattern evolutions are possible with Islamic designs, but are not yet common - perhaps an opportunity.

    • poeticfolly2 days ago
      I have wanted such screens for ages, do you know where I can buy such screens for my house?
      • cinntailea day ago
        I don't have an answer but you probably want to mention where you live.
  • scorchingjello2 days ago
    Kinda bummed there wasn’t any Japanese woodworking in the picture. Just this American artist’s studies of it. I was hoping for some comparison shots to the historic Japanese forms mentioned.
  • DamnInteresting2 days ago
    I've been reading Smithsonian Magazine for a long time, and I would like to take this opportunity to complain about one element of their recent website redesign. I find it deeply annoying that there is no publication date anywhere on the page. It's especially annoying in their News section. Am I looking at new news, or old news? I do know that it's in the source code, but I shouldn't have to view source for such a basic and important detail.
    • DamnInterestinga day ago
      Nevermind, I've just discovered that the problem isn't Smithsonian, it's uBlock Origin's "cosmetic filters." One of the lists was removing the date from the Smithsonian pages. Inscrutable.
  • Calwestjobs2 days ago
    Most annoying thing about this art is that i can see how these small parts can be manufactured by machines in huge quantities quite easily. And so when we have capability to make such stuff, why don't we? Is it crisis in schooling, in our world view? Also with other kind of arts, why dont we have it more in our lives?
    • 0_____02 days ago
      Who is "we"? The purpose isn't scaling up.

      I sometimes think that the "hypergrowth" segment of the population will efficiency-hack everything until either they all, or perhaps the rest of us, have left our meatspace bodies behind and simply exist as a series of Docker containers

      • gesshaa day ago
        Yeah, I don’t see a purpose behind mass-producing these. The beauty of these pieces is the intent and craftsmanship that went into it. You can 3D scan the works of Michelangelo or print out a Mona Lisa but what’s the point?

        What’s good for mass-production is utility pieces, not art.

      • guhidalg2 days ago
        Who has the kubectl credentials to humanity?
    • jasonthorsness2 days ago
      I think the bent and “through” pieces would be quite difficult to make and assemble in bulk. You could produce something sort-of similar with laser cut or maybe stamped pieces but the grain would be all wrong and you would need to deal with charring in the case of the laser. So maybe this would not be so easy to mass-manufacture and still have it look impressive.
      • rocqua2 days ago
        The bending might be difficult. But the through pieces are easily done by hand on a table saw with a simple jig. Making that fully CnC seems easy.
    • WillAdamsa day ago
      Arguably, the crisis in schooling would be addressed by teaching woodworking in schools as the Northern Europeans traditionally have:

      https://rainfordrestorations.com/category/woodworking-techni...

      >Students may never pick up a tool again, but they will forever have the knowledge of how to make and evaluate things with your hand and your eye and appreciate the labor of others

      That said, the problem is much the same as for Lego bricks:

      - warehousing is expensive

      - sorting and kitting and packaging add up

      with the added problem of assembly can't be off-loaded to the purchaser, and shipping an assembled panel ramps up the packaging and shipping costs, to say nothing of the need for insurance to cover damage when shipping.

    • egypturnash2 days ago
      There are a lot of artists out there who are doing work with a similar vibe by stacking up multiple layers of laser-cut matte board. Usually these have gallery-ready prices.

      You can buy kits of thin sheets of metal that are intricately die-cut, and assemble into little sculptures of trains and buildings and bugs and whatnot.

      But who can afford to buy anything any more?

    • bradly2 days ago
      > why don't we have it more in our lives?

      That is up to you. I have it in my life. Lots of others do to. Most of us here are fairly privileged and get to choose how we spend multiple hours each day.

      And young kids will emulate their parents. Want your kids to read? Read. Want you kids to go outside? Go outside. Want your kids to make art? Make art.

    • ceejayoz2 days ago
      If you want a machine-made masterpiece, buy an iPhone. The intricacy of a modern CPU far exceeds this woodwork.

      Mass producing these would be like hiring a print shop to send a “I love you” note to a million random humans. It misses the point.

    • gus_massa2 days ago
      Because usig them is expensive. Using a nail gun or supeglue is cheaper.
  • WillAdamsa day ago
    Wish "Kumiko" had been included in the title.

    For folks who wish to get started on this, one great company to order from is Lee Valley:

    https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/supplies/project-...

    • steve_adams_86a day ago
      I got this for my son years ago and we both loved it. I've wanted to take on larger projects since, but we've only made small items like coasters.

      It's so gratifying. It hurt my fingers at first (maybe I'm doing something wrong) but as you build callus it gets easier. It's such a nice way to spend a weekend morning.

      I bought various angled jigs for cutting with my chisels, but I realized in retrospect that I could have saved a lot of money by 3d printing jigs. If you have a printer and want to give this a shot, that could be a useful way to get going.

      Lee Valley also sells a good book about this: https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/books-and-dvds/11...

      I'm realizing now would be a great time to start making some projects as Christmas gifts. I should bring my tools on camping trips over summer, have some nice kumiko and coffee mornings, and get myself ahead for holiday gifts.

      • WillAdamsa day ago
        Interestingly, doing woodworking when camping/vacationing is something that I've been wanting to dedicate a toolbox/set of tools to.

        Agree on the 3D printed jigs/fixtures thing --- it's surprisingly handy, and lends itself to a wonderful precision.

        That said, what I really want for this sort of thing is a shooting plane/board (though I suppose I could just use my Jointmaker Pro, for which I really want to make an angle setting fixture).

        • steve_adams_8616 hours ago
          The joint maker pro looks like so much fun! I love Bridge City. Do you get much use out of it?

          It’s not very hard to make kumiko jigs from scrap wood, too. I was a bit lazy at the time, and given a trip to the wood store and a bit of planning could have done it myself. A shooting board is also a great idea

          • WillAdams15 hours ago
            Thus far, my notable usage has been cutting boxes apart:

            https://community.carbide3d.com/t/cutting-boxes-and-a-new-to...

            though I use it for whenever a need a saw cut with precision.

            • steve_adams_862 hours ago
              Beautiful work on that box! The joinery is super tight and clean. I suspect I’d love to have one of these around but I’m not sure I (or my family) could stomach that price tag, haha.

              I’m also expected to finish projects so quickly, it seems like power tools are my only sane option these days. Maybe some day, though. I love the idea of working with quieter, slower, calmer tools like I used to.

  • amelius2 days ago
    Looks nice, but will catch a lot of dust. How do you keep it clean?
  • Hnrobert422 days ago
    Thank you for this post. It inspired me to go down and see the craft fair today. It was great!
  • adrianN2 days ago
    How difficult is it to make these with the tools available in the Asuka period compared to modern tools?
    • joshvm2 days ago
      I would imagine the most difficult part would be preparing thin enough stock accurately, but that's possible via planing. The cutting and angle-forming can be done with custom planes or jigs/guide blocks. I don't think you even need a particularly thin saw blade.
  • Aliens_agent2 days ago
    The mortise and tenon craft originated in China, and China has the most exquisite skills and craftsmanship