Kunie Komori

• Designation
  Living National Treasure (Important Intangible Cultural Property for Lacquer)
• Category
  Lacquerware
• Techniques
  Lacquered bamboo, Lacquering
• Born
  1945 -
• Based in
  Ishikawa
• Membership
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
  

Biography

• 1945
  Born in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture
• 1965
  Started training under a chinkin* master TARUMI Kosaku (*incised and gold-filled decoration)
• 1968
  Entered Chinkin Department, Wajima City Wajima Lacquer Arts Training Institute (2nd graduation class, March 1971)
• 1970
  Independent and self-supporting
• 1975
  Special student, Kyushitsu Department, Ishikawa Prefectural Wajima Lacquer Arts
  Training Institute (completed in March 1978)
  Selected for 16th Ishikawa Traditional Art Exhibition; selected every year to date
• 1977
  Selected for 24th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition; selected every year to date.
  Chosen for Urushi Work Technique Successor Training Project undertaken by Japan Kogei Association and studied at the home studio of the instructor AKAJI Yusai for 3 years
• 1979
  Participated in 1st Shikko-kai Exhibition; submitted every year to date
• 1980
  Invited to submit to Kanazawa 400:International Crafts and Design Exhibition
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
  Three Artists Exhibition, Nara Japan Art
• 1983
  Joint Exhibition with his wife Kazue, Ikebukuro Seibu Department Store craft gallery, Tokyo
• 1984
  Selected for 1st Exhibition of Japanese Traditional Urushi Works; selected every year to date
  Saishitsu-kai Exhibition, Okinawa Products Center art gallery
  Submitted to 2nd Yamaha Crafts Exhibition; submitted regularly up to 14th Exhibition in 1996
  Solo exhibition, Fujinoya, Tochigi Prefecture
  1st Division Exhibition, Nihonbashi Takashimaya art gallery, Tokyo (up to 4th Exhibition)
• 1985
  Invited to submit to 1st Ishikawa Prefecture Selected Artists Art Exhibition
  Solo exhibition "Vermilion and Black Lacquerware," Minami-Aoyama Green Gallery
• 1986
  Invited to submit to 2nd Ishikawa Prefecture Selected Artists Art Exhibition
• 1987
  Invited by the Prime Minister to attend an art and culture social gathering
  Submitted to Seibu Takanawakai
  Solo exhibition, Ikebukuro Seibu Department Store art salon, Tokyo
• 1988
  Participated in 1st Ishikawa Cultural Wings "Singapore Exhibition"
• 1989
  Judge, 7th Exhibition of Japanese Traditional Urushi Works
• 1990
  Invited by the Prime Minister to attend an art and culture social gathering
  Judge, 37th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
  "Ajiro-shimamon Hakkaku Kasanebako" purchased by Ishikawa Prefecture Wajima Museum of Urushi Art
  Submitted to Jomon-kai Exhibition Kumamoto Tsuruya Department Store
• 1991
  Solo exhibition, Seibu Takanawakai, Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka
  Solo exhibition, Ikebukuro Seibu Department Store Art Forum, Tokyo
  Solo exhibition "Ten Light Tea Utensils," Galerie Pousse, Ginza, Tokyo
  Judge, 9th Exhibition of Japanese Traditional Urushi Works / Entry "Wagewazukuri Rantaiban" purchased by Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
• 1992
  Invited to submit to 3rd Ishikawa Prefecture Selected Artists Art Exhibition "Artists Born in the Post-World War II Period"
  "Ajiro Bengaratamari Kasanebako" purchased by Victoria and Albert Museum, UK
  Specially requested to submit to 10th Exhibition of Japanese Traditional Urushi Works (also to 11th, 13, 14, 15, and 17 Exhibitions)
• 1993
  Invited to submit to "Nuances in Lacquer:70 Years of Innovations," the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• 1994
  Solo exhibition, Akasaka Green Gallery
  Judge, 41st Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
  Judge, 12th Exhibition of Japanese Traditional Urushi Works
  Invited to submit to "Exhibition of Arts and Crafts:100 Creators of Ishikawa," Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
• 1995
  Exhibited at "Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition," Victoria and Albert Museum
  Solo exhibition, Nihonbashi Takashimaya Department Store art gallery, Tokyo
• 1996
  Submitted to "Rainbows and Shimmering Bridges - Japanese Contemporary Lacquerware Exhibition," Japan Society Gallery, New York, and Denver Art Museum, Denver
  Solo exhibition, Akasaka Green Gallery
• 1997
  Judge, 44th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
  Solo exhibition, Seibu Takanawakai, Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka
  Solo exhibition, Seibu Takanawakai, Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa
• 1998
  Specially requested to submit to 45th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
  Solo exhibition, Ikebukuro Seibu Department Store Art Forum, Tokyo
  Judge, 16th Exhibition of Japanese Traditional Urushi Works
  Solo exhibition, Umegaoka Art Center, Setagaya Ward, Tokyo
  Submitted to "Shitsurin Exhibition," Kanazawa Station Gallery
• 1999
  Judge, 46th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
  Invited to submit to "Exhibition of Arts and Crafts:Creators of Ishikawa" in Biennale Ishikawa Autumn Art Festival
  Solo exhibition, Nihonbashi Takashimaya Department Store art gallery, Tokyo
• 2000
  Invited to submit to Japanese Contemporary Urushi Art Exhibition, Holland
  Participated in 6th Ishikawa Cultural Wings "Traditional Arts and Crafts of Ishikawa:Beijing Exhibition"
  Specially requested to submit to 47th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
• 2001
  Solo exhibition, Gallery KOZOOM, Suginami Ward, Tokyo
  Specially requested to submit to 48th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
  Solo exhibition, Maruei Department Store, Nagoya
• 2003
  Solo exhibition, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi special selection art gallery, Tokyo
• 2005
  Solo exhibition, Sogo Shinsaibashi main store art gallery
• 2006
  Acknowledged as a holder of important intangible cultural property (urushi art)
  Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon
• 2007
  Submitted to 54th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition as the holder of important intangible cultural property / Entry:"Rantai Moriki" purchased by MOA Museum of Art
  Solo exhibition, Nihonbashi Takashimaya Department Store art gallery, Tokyo (100th Anniversary of Takashimaya Art Department)
• 2008
  Solo exhibition, Osaka Takashimaya Department Store art gallery
• 2009
  Solo exhibition, Nihonbashi Yodo Art Gallery, Tokyo
  Solo exhibition, Yokohama Sogo Department Store art gallery

Awards

• 1986
  Received the President of NHK Prize for the entry "Magewazukuri Rantai Jikirou" at the 33rd Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
• 1987
  Received the Incentive Award at the 28th Ishikawa Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
• 1988
  Entered the 44th Ishikawa Contemporary Art Exhibition (Received the Hokkoku Award in 1990, and the Grand Prize in 1992)
• 1989
  Received the Incentive Award at the 30th Ishikawa Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
  Received the President of NHK Prize for the entry "Ajiro-shimamon Kasanebako" at the 36th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, which was later purchased by the Agency for Cultural Affairs
• 1999
  Received the Hokkoku Culture Award
• 2002
  Received the Japan Kogei Association "Important Intangible Cultural Asset" Holder's Prize for the entry " Magewazukuri Rantaiban, Reimei" at the 49th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, which was later purchased by the Agency for Cultural Affairs
• 2004
  Received the Mokichi Okada Grand Prize