English
My wish
When I work with my creation, I continue embracing the lacquer culture nurtured by our predecessors from ancient times to present day.My first encounter with Urushi was when I saw the black Urushi sap, the sap that looks as if it quietly whispers as it was alive. When I create my art work using this sap, the life of Urushi tree, there is a moment when it abandons my hands and gets filled with its original energy. This makes me realise that the art work I am creating is through Blessing of Nature, the life of Urushi. Never forgetting the beauty within Urushi, I aspire to create a “work of art for everyday use” through “Kanshitsu” technique.
My encounter with Urushi
After graduating from Musashino Art University, I went to Italy to study design.
While I had many opportunities to think about Japan's beauty, I realiesed that Japan had Urushi. On returning to Japan after a year, I knocked on Master Nagatoshi Onishi's door and was trained under him for 3 years. The very first time I saw Urushi Sap, I was moved by its beauty and mystery. Now I feel the happiness of working with this natural material.
What is Kanshitsu (dried lacquer) technique?
The technique of Kanshitsu is created by adding layers of Linen material coating with natural adhesive such as wheat Urushi and glue Urushi on the mould. When the ideal thickness has been created, the Urushi coated linen layers is released from the mould.
It is reported that Kanshitsu technique was introduced to Japan in the early 7th century (Nara period) when trade with China became prosperous. The technique was used for the production of Buddha statues because of its light weight and durability.
Typical Kanshitsu Buddha statues include the Ashura statue at Kofukuji Temple and the Ganjinwajozajo statue at Toshodaiji Temple.
"Japan" has also the meaning of "URUSHI".
Personal History
-
1975.09 Born in Tokyo, Japan
Lived and brought up in Rome, Italy1999.03 Graduated from Musashino Art University, Department of Scenography, Displayand Fashion Design 2000.10 Studied Design at Scuola Politecnica di Design in Milan, Italy
Worked as an apprentice in Studio Architetto Anri Azuma2001.09 Returned to Japan
Apprentice under Honorary Professor of National University of Fine Arts and Music,Nagatoshi Onishi2004.09 Left Master Nagatoshi Ohnishi and became an independent artist 2005.02 Group exhibition at Kashi no Ki gallery 2006.02 Received the Judge's Tableware Original Design Award (Professional Class)
at the 14th Talbleware Festival 2006 Competition in Tokyo2006.10 Group exhibition at "Galeria Mao” gallery in Tokyo 2007.12 Personal exhibition at " Shunn" gallery Tokyo Hiroo 2008.04 Display and exhibition at "MA by So Shi Te" Tokyo Minamiaoyama Shop 2008.07 Participate at " Cafe Line Candle Night" Chiba Kashiwa 2008.10 "Wan ;one Competion 2008" Kanazawa competion won the Excellence Award 2008.10 "The International UrushiExhibition Ishikawa 2009" in Kanazawa,Ishikawa
Winning work2008.10 Exhibition of Collaboration accessary work created by
Fashion Designer Megumi Ogihara, Naoko Kusuda at
"Megumi Ogihara 2009 Spring Summer Collection" in Ebisu, Tokyo2008.11 Personal exhibition at "Art Line Kashiwa" 2008.12 Group exhibition at "Galeria Mao" gallery in Tokyo 2009.07 Exhibition "Art of Master Nagatoshi Ohnishi and his Pupil"
Theme -Succession of Lacquar
Kogei Gallery, Tokyu Honten, Tokyo Shibuya2009.12 Personal Exhibition of "Naoko Kusuda"
Theme - "The Fountainhead of Life"Tokyo Hiro2010.09 Participate at "Urushi art work2010" Ishikawa Wajima and Kanazawa 2011.02 Received the Fine work at Tableware Original Design Award (Professional Class)
at the 19th Talbleware Festival 2010 Competition in Tokyo2013.10 Personal exhibition at "gallery Tachibane" Nara 2014.10 Received the jurors'Special Prize Kwon Saug-Oh Prize
at "The International UrushiExhibition Ishikawa 2014"in Kanazawa,Ishikawa2014.10 "Itami International Craft Exibition 2013"in Itami
Winning work2016.02 Nara crafts exhibition with 6 Artis at Tokyo Nihonbashi 2016.09 Exhibition with Nakamura at Ibaragi 2017.12 Personal exhibition at "gallery Tachibana" Nara 2019.01 Group exhibition at " art space Morgenrot gallery" Tokyo Minamiaoyama 2020.01 Online exhibition at "PAKUPAKUAN" Tokyo Minamiaoyama
Echo of the soul of language to hear from a vessel of the jet black
"BLACK ECHO" exhibition feat. Calligrapher SHIRAISHI Setsuhi & Japanese lacquer artist KUSUDA Naoko
"IRO WA NIOEDO"2022.01 Exhibition of two artist at "art space Morgenrot gallery" Tokyo Minamiaoyama 2022.06 Group Exhibition with master Ohnishi and his Pupil at "Nobana Art Work in GINZA" Messages from World Urushi Culture Cuncil (WUCC) 2023.10 "The International Urushi Exhibition Ishikawa 2023" Winning work
For more information please contact nkusuda@kanshitsu.com