JAPAN TRADITIONAL Urushi Works EXHIBITION 2024、Permanent Collection 5th term 2023

Urushi (Japanese natural lacquer) art is a Japan’s representational crafts that have a long history.The JAPAN TRADITIONAL Urushi Works EXHIBITION has been held as the urushi works section exhibition of the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, with the aim of inheriting the tradition and applying it to modern life. Now in its 41st year, this exhibition will tour three venues in Tokyo, Takamatsu and Hiroshima, presenting all 75 accepted works including the prize-winning 7.

Showcasing the works from the prominent figures to emerging artists, all of which demonstrate the endless challenge to the art of urushi works, this exhibition makes a great contribution to the training of successors. It is also a unique opportunity to see the local characteristics cultivated in each region. In addition to the refined exploration into the technique and the aesthetics shown in this exhibition, we invite all visitors to see the collection of Takamatsu Art Museum, which is on display in the permanent exhibition room #2 titled “Memorial Exhibition of Isoi Masami: From Tradition to New Creation,” and enjoy the beauty of urushi works.

Isoi Masami (1926‐2023) was a lacquer artist. He was born in Takamatsu, as the third son of Isoi Joshin, who was also a lacquer artist and later became a holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property, Kinma (Living National Treasure). After being enrolled in the Navy as a student of the
Japanese Naval Aviator Preparatory Course Trainee during World War II, he began studying under Joshin in 1946 and began his career as an artist. He was first accepted into the 4th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 1957, but was rejected three years in a row after the 5th exhibition in 1958. His turning point came in 1961, when he received a word of advice from Masumura Mashiki, the later holder of the Important Intangible Cultural Property, Kyushitsu. Subsequently, he began to create a series of plain works that explored formative aspects. In 1964, the series and his study of form were concluded, because he was awarded the Minister of Education, Science, Sports and Culture Encouragement Prize at the 29th Kagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition in the year. Thereafter, he resumed challenging the richer decorative expressions of Kinma (incised and colour-filled decoration). He successively established a widerange of new techniques, from the invention of “Renge-bori (literally “lotus carving”), which expresses softer images utilizing round knives for wood carving, and the development of “Ofuku-bori (literally “reciprocating carving”)”, to precisely depict delicate motifs that have swaying or movement, based on “Ten-bori (literally “dot carving”)” created by Joshin, to the application of natural properties of the material such as color lacquer as a method of expression. In 1985, he was designated as the holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property, Kinma.

While utilizing provocative techniques, Masami’s works are also characterized by a style that envelops a tranquil atmosphere in aspects such as the air in the background of the motif. Referring to the interpretation of tradition as “the ingenuity and creativity of each person of that era," Masami had continued to face his own creative works while his lifetime with “the desire to keep questioning the new expression to the world,” too.

In memory of the late Isoi Masami, who has been missed and lamented ever since his passing in September 2023, this exhibition presents a total of 35 of his works in the collection of Takamatsu Art Museum, along with keywords related to techniques and designs, and introduces the traces of his creativity.

Image：Isoi Masami《Box with Gromwell Design, Kinma》1990, photo by Akira Takahashi