Akio Shimada

1971 -
  • Wood and Bamboo
  • Price Range $1,000 - 10,000
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  • Awards at Japan Kōgei Assoc. Exhibitions : 2

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    • Category
      Wood and Bamboo
    • Techniques
      Mokuga wood decoration, Wood joinery
    • Born
      1971 -
    • Based in
      Hokkaido
    • Membership
      Full member, Japan Kogei Association
      Meister of Swedish Furniture
    Akio Shimada

    About the Artist

    Fusion of Nordic Art and Japanese Crafts

    Woodwork artist Akio Shimada received the 70th Anniversary Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, marking its 70th year in 2023. After training in various places around Japan, Shimada went to Sweden to learn Nordic woodwork techniques. When he returned to Japan, he built his studio in Tobetsu Town, Hokkaido and started making furniture with marquetries. In 2007, he received the title "Meister" of Swedish furniture manufacturing, a national qualification in Sweden, for the first time as a Japanese person. At the same time, he also submitted his artwork to the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the top level techniques and beauty of traditional Japanese crafts gather, and received the 70th Anniversary Award with his most recent work.

    Style

    When I was a child, I saw a wood engraving and was impressed and amazed by the beauty of the wood grains. Since then, I have been devoted to making things with wood.
    I consider the natural colors that the wood has, the wood grains, and how to balance them when working with wood.
    I give maximum effort to use the wood grains so that the patterns look three-dimensional when viewed from different angles.

    Biography

    • 1971
      Born in Tomakomai City, Hokkaido
    • 1990
      Graduated from Hokkaido Otoineppu Art and Craft High School
    • 1992
      Graduated from Takaoka National College, Industrial Craft Department (current University of Toyama, Faculty of Art and Design)
    • 2000
      Graduated from Capellagården, Furniture & Interior Department (Sweden)
    • 2001
      Established Wood Workshop "Design Studio Shimada" in Tobetsu Town, Ishikari, Hokkaido
    • 2007
      Earned the title of Furniture Meister certified by the Swedish Society of Crafts and Design
    • 2009
      Becomes Part-time Lecturer at Seisa Dohto University, Faculty of Fine Art (up to present)
    • ● Various solo exhibitions and groups exhibitions in Japan and overseas

    Awards

    • 2015
      Received the NHK Kyoto Broadcasting Station Manager Award at the Geibunkyo Exhibition 2015 (Kyoto)
    • 2021
      Received the Asahi Shimbun Award at the 61st East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

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    View All 7 Artworks byAkio Shimada