For this week’s blog, I would like to make a special mention to a prize that influenced Babs Haenen’s future artistic creations. It was the year of 1991, when the INAX Design Prize for Europeans brought together four talented designers from across Europe to experience a unique cultural and creative exchange in Tokoname, Japan. This prize, established by INAX, the Japanese innovative manufacturing company, wanted to foster a deeper connection between European and Japanese ceramic traditions, with the goal of encouraging new discoveries and ideas. INAX invited the winners to work with Japanese materials, offering them the chance to explore the rich history of Japanese craftsmanship.
Babs and the other three artists flew business class to Japan and were welcomed with open arms, while each received a prize of 9000 euro. The ceremony took place at the Dutch Embassy in Tokyo, presided over by the ambassador at the time, Marion Penning. Their accommodation was in Tokoname, where they were each given a private place to stay during the residency – Babs got a traditional 9 tatami mat Japanese-style living space, simple yet comfortable, reflecting the minimalist aesthetics of Japan.
During their three-month residency, the artists worked at the INAX craft studio, a space designed specifically for the prize winners to engage with local materials and techniques. The studio became a hub of creativity and cultural exchange, where Japanese crafts people observed the European artists' approach to ceramics, learning from their unique perspectives, while the Europeans gained insight into Japanese methods.
The collaborative environment fostered an ongoing dialogue between tradition and innovation, something that INAX had hoped to achieve through this prize. During her residency, the first piece that she made, she incorporated an INAX design tile and her Japanese name as well as creating her first tile panel. All four artists gave lectures on their creative process and their work to their Japanese counterparts, thus further promoting the exchange of artistic ideas.
Outside of the studio, the prize winners were immersed in the cultural richness of Japan. They experienced Japanese hospitality through hot baths, dinners and social gatherings. The Japanese dinners especially left a lasting impression on Babs, adding that “each dish beautifully presented in vibrant, colourful bowls, resembled a work of art”. The meals were not just about the food but also the aesthetic experience, as if eating from a painting. These dinners were also a key part of the cultural exchange, providing opportunities for social interaction and bonding, something deeply valued by the Japanese hosts.
After the three-month residency, Babs travelled further across Japan, visiting places like Shikaragi and Arrita, soaking in the country’s diverse ceramic traditions.
The works that Babs and her fellow artists created during this time remain in the collection of INAX, preserved as part of the lasting legacy of the INAX Design Prize for Europeans. The museum in Tokoname continues to showcase these pieces, a testament to the meaningful exchange that took place and the lasting connections formed between the two cultures. How delightful it is, when prizes of this sort end up becoming a win-win situation for all parties involved!
See ya!
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