Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world. Matryoshka dolls are a Russian folk art tradition dating back over a century. These hollow wooden figurines, shaped like squat bowling pins and painted ornately, come in sets that nest neatly one inside another. On a recent visit to northeastern China, I learned that many nesting dolls are made in one small township here Yimianpo.
Japan is an island nation rich in timber, from cypress (Hinoki) to cedar (Sugi) to larch (Karamatsu). Its renowned woodworking heritage dates back centuries, taking the form of immaculately carved wooden beams in houses, ornate storage boxes, and revered religious statuary. For some artists working today, this timeless tradition translates perfectly into contemporary expressions. Hand-hewn from timber, expressive faces and dynamic motifs emerge in the sculptures of Kigaku - Re(a)lize - at FUMA Contemporary Tokyo.