ARTISTS / 高橋悠真 Takahashi Yuma
Yuma Takahashi (b.1988) graduated from the Tohoku University of Art and Design in 2015. He envisions to pass down the lacquer culture with as rich as 9000 years of history to the new generation and create humble companions to people’s life by incorporating lacquer art into everyday life objects.
Takahashi explores the theme of "balance" or "boundary" between himself and nature, with a particular focus on lacquer as his chosen medium. Takahashi's artwork portrays the unique phenomena that emerge through layering lacquer and captures universal landscapes. One of Takahashi's primary techniques is the "kawarinuri" (changing lacquer) technique, which originated during the Edo period as a means of expressing social status through the decoration of samurai sword scabbards. By incorporating a wide range of coloured lacquers developed since the Meiji era, Takahashi pushes the boundaries of traditional lacquer art and explores new contemporary possibilities within the medium.
Takahashi received "73rd Kanazawa City Crafts Exhibition" Ishikawa Prefecture Traditional Industry Promotion Council Chairman's Award in 2017. In recent years, he has actively sought connections between street culture and craft culture, collaborating with fellow ceramic artists, apparel and hotel brands to create collaborative works.
Graduated from the Department of Fine Arts and Crafts, Tohoku University of Art and Design in 2015.
Completed the Kanazawa Uotensan Craft Workshop in 2018.
Currently working as a part-time lecturer at Tohoku University of Art and Design.
Engaged in creative work in Kanazawa City.
Main Exhibition History:
2024
Thousand Faces: Sakewares Exhibition III, TOUCH Ceramics HK
2023:
"Let's Go, Spring Breeze" at Kanazawa in Ginza (Tokyo)
"circulation Takahashi Yuzen Solo Exhibition" at Morgenroth (Aoyama)
2022:
"Art Fair Tokyo 2022" at Tokyo International Forum
"GO FOR KOGEI 2022" at IN KANAZAWA HOUSE (Kanazawa)
"KOGEI Art Fair Kanazawa 2022" at Hyatt Centric Kanazawa (Kanazawa)
2021:
"COLORS | Takahashi Yuzen and Suiren Maemi Exhibition" at Space Ohara (Gifu)
"Shapes and Life - Kita Go and Takahashi Yuzen" at Morgenroth (Aoyama)
2020:
"TOKYO ANTIQUE FAIR 2020" at Tokyo Bijutsu Club (Tokyo)
2019:
"Yuzen Takahashi Solo Exhibition - Narrative" at Oribe Art Gallery (Aoyama)
2018:
"Kanazawa Uchitensan Kogei Workshop Trainee Exhibition 2018" at Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
Award and Selection History:
2018:
"74th Kanazawa City Crafts Exhibition" Selection
Received the "Kanazawa Uchitensan Kogei Workshop Award"
2017:
"73rd Kanazawa City Crafts Exhibition" Ishikawa Prefecture Traditional Industry Promotion Council Chairman's Award
2016:
"Itami International Craft Exhibition 'Sake Vessel and Sake Cup Stand'" Selection
"33rd Mitsubishi Corporation Art Gate Program" Selection
2015:
"Graduation and Completion Exhibition of Tohoku University of Art and Design" Japan Lacquerware Association Lacquer Award Scholarship
"World Craft Competition-Kanazawa: Space for Tea" Selection
"29th Mitsubishi Corporation Art Gate Program" Selection
2013:
"Lighting Object 2013" Miyajima Tatsuo Jury Award
Collection:
"Kanazawa Uchitensan Kogei Workshop"
Commissioned Works:
"Hotel Ethnography Gion Komonzen" in Kyoto
"Hotel Sai no Niwa" in Kanazawa
"The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Umekoji" in Kyoto
"Mitsui Garden Hotel" in Kanazawa
"St. Regis Hotel" in Osaka
"OMO5 Kanazawa Katamachi by Hoshino Resorts" in Kanazawa