Spring 2009 Exhibition
Nagakura Ken'ichi (b.1952)
"Riika"
1993
71 x 38 x 8 in. (180 x 96 x 20 cm)
Collection of Angela and Takashi Sawano,
on long-term loan at the Clark Center
New Bamboo:
Contemporary Japanese Masters
February 7 – May 9, 2009
For centuries, farmers and artisans in Japan plaited different types of bamboo to create functional containers. These containers were primarily used for utilitarian purposes. Artists started to make special baskets for displaying flowers during sencha, the Chinese manner of tea-drinking. Working with bamboo and making flower baskets is a highly time-consuming and exacting art form as it needs technical precision. Traditionally, bamboo artists underwent a strict apprenticeship and learned their technical skills from a master over many years. In addition, innovation and imagination is needed in order to reach new artistic levels with this traditional material.
Over time, a distinct Japanese style of flower basket was developed by the bamboo weavers and during the 1950s, a few of the artists moved away from making baskets and started to experiment with purely sculptural, non-functional forms. In Japan, bamboo art is a small field compared with ceramics and other decorative arts and many of the artists today produce flower baskets along with sculptures.
A number of exhibitions in the United States in recent years concentrated on functional works of bamboo, predominantly for flower arrangements. New Bamboo: Contemporary Japanese Masters is the first exhibition to focus exclusively on bamboo as a sculptural medium. Between February 7 and May 9, the Clark Center for Japanese Art & Culture is the only other venue of this exhibition that was first presented at the Japan Society Gallery, New York, in winter 2008. From the many sculptures exhibited in New York the Center has selected 31 objects and incorporates six new objects that were not in New York. Several of these new objects are very large and have not been exhibited before.
The sculptures in this exhibition encompass dramatic wall pieces by Uematsu Chikuyū (b.1947) and Nagakura Ken’ichi (b.1952) as well as fragile and subtle works by Ueno Masao (b.1949) or Morigami Jin (b.1955). The objects shown are by 14 living artists, covering a time span of 30 years, from 1978 to 2007. The Clark Center is very grateful to the seven important collectors in the western United States who, by generously loaning their objects to the Center, have made this unique exhibition possible.
Curated by Joe Earle, Director, Japan Society Gallery, New York
Co-Curated by Andreas Marks, Director/Chief Curator
Uematsu Chikuyū (b.1947)
"Sound of the Cello" (detail)
2000
29 x 42 x 5 in. (73.5 x 106.5 x 12.5 cm)
Collection of the Clark Center for Japanese Art & Culture
Gallery hours: Tuesday through Saturday 1 – 5 pm. Closed on national holidays and during the month of August.
Admission: $5 for adults, $3 for students with valid ID. Children 12 and under free.
Weekly docent tours are held Saturdays at 1 pm and guided group tours can be arranged by calling the Center in advance at (559) 582-4915.