Koki Okumura

• Designation
  Living National Treasure (Important Intangible Cultural Property for Chisel work)
• Category
  Metalwork
• Techniques
  Metal inlay
• Born
  1950 -
• Based in
  Tokyo
• Membership
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
  

About the Artist

Using Traditional Metalwork Techniques in Modern Expressions

Metalwork artist Koki Okumura received the Japan Kōgei Association Incentive Award at the 70th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition. He developed his metalwork skills through repairing and restoring old cultural properties. Using "shibuichi", an alloy of copper and silver, and other combinations of metal, he creates a warm texture that does not look like metal at first glance. While using traditional techniques, his artistic work that go beyond the borders of tradition, have been awarded several times at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the top artworks in Japan gather.

Style

Creating artwork using material, traditional techniques and artisan skills to repair and restore historic cultural property.

Biography

• 1975
  Graduated from Musashino Art University
• 1992
  Made the ”Dragon Patterned Paulownia Crest Nail Covers" for Ryutakuji in Mishima, Shizuoka
• 1993
  Dedicated "Silver Hosoge Flower Patterned Sutra Case" to the Shakamuni-butsu (principal image of Buddha) made by Shinkan Nishikido at Koshinji in Tochigi
• 1998
  Made the tabernacles for the main cathedral and Xavier cathedral at the St. Ignatius Church in Yotsuya, Tokyo
• 1999
  Submitted Silver Incense Box and Forged Silver Incense Burner with Inlay "To the Sky” to the "100 Selections of Contemporary Japanese Craft Exhibition" held in Paris
• 2000
  Solo Exhibition "Prayers" at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store
• 2001
  Submitted Silver Incese Burner "Iraka (Roof Tile)" to the "Contemporary Fragrance Vessels" Exhibition at the Museum of Fragrance, Iwata
  Artwork purchased by the museum
• 2004
  Restored the cord fittings for National Treasure Raden Makie Box with Fusenryo Design at Suntory Museum of Art
  Currently stored at Wajima Urushi Art Technical Training Center
• 2006
  Restored and dedicated the National Treasure Shichishito (sword) to Isonokami Jingu
• 2009
  Repairment of Sogenin Kuden (small shrine) in Yutenji (Nakameguro, Tokyo), completed in September, 2013
• 2017
  Repairment of Gold and Bronze Double Tower Portable Chest (cultural property damaged by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011), collection of the Rikuzentakata City Museum Completed in March, 2021
• 2021
  Evaluator at the 68th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

Awards

• 1995
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Award for "Iron Box with Inlay" at the 25th Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Minister of Education Award for "Iron Incense Box with Inlay " at the 42nd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2007
  Recieved the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award for Rogin Box "Dream" at the 36th Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2010
  Received the Judge's Special Award for Rogin Box with Gold Inlays "Sound of Wings" at "Art Crafts in the 21st Century : A View from Abroad" at the MOA Museum of Art
• 2012
  Received the Tokyo Governor Award for Iron Box with Inlay "Parting" at the 52nd East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2016
  Received the Soukeikai Award for Silver Box "Crossing the Sea" at the 45th Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2017
  Received the Tokyo Governor Award for Rogin Box with Inlay "After Midnight" at the 57th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2024
  MOA Museum of Art Award, 52nd Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition