Akane Yamamoto

• Category
  Kirikane cut foil embellishing
• Techniques
  Kirikane cut foil embellishing
• Born
  1977 -
• Based in
  Kyoto

Style

Kirikane (cut foil) embellishing is applied between the glass to lock in the kirikane patterns.
Producing kirikane glass artworks by placing kirikane (a technique to cut thin lines of layered gold, silver and platinum foil and adhering them with glue and a brush to create patterns) within the transparent glass as if it were floating in space.
With the optical characteristics of glass such as reflecting and refracting, the kirikane floating in the glass creates various patterns like a kaleidoscope.

Biography

• 1977
  Born in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
• 1999
  Starts studying kirikane on her own
• 2000
  Studied traditional kirikane techniques from Sayoko Eri, Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property for "kirikane"
• 2001
  Graduated from Kyoto City University of Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Fine Arts, Japanese Painting (reproduction and ink painting) major
• 2002
  Becomes part-time lecturer at Kyoto Zokei University (current Kyoto University of the Arts) (up to 2008)
• 2008
  Selected for the first time for the 55th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2010
  Invited to submit to the Kyoto Kogei Biennale
• 2011
  Graduated from Toyama Institute of Glass Art, Glass Certification Studies Program
  Establishes studio in Kyoto City
  Solo Exhibitions (Gallery NOW / Toyama, Kyoto Takashimaya, Matsuya Ginza)
• 2012
  "Snow and Ice" Exhibition (Gunma Museum of Art, Tatebayashi)
• 2013
  Toyama City Newly Collected Glass Artwork Exhibition
  CRIA Exhibition (Kyoto Art Center)
  Solo Exhibitions (Gallery Ginza Artone, Osaka Takashimaya, Daiwa Kohrinbo)
  Becomes Full Member of the Japan Kōgei Association
• 2014
  Started submitting to TEFAF, COLLECT, Masterpiece London, and Pavillion of Art & Design London
  "Coalescent Kōgei: Future of Tradition through Encounters” (Ginza Wako Hall)
  "Treasures in Japanese Houses: the Beauty of Installations" (Rakusui-tei Museum of Art, Toyama)
• 2015
  Solo Exhibitions (Gallery NOW, Osaka Takashimaya)
  "A Tale Told through Art" (Takasaki Tower Museum of Art)
  "Contemporary Artistic Crafts: the Aesthetics of Japan and Tea" (Somé Seiryukan, Kyoto)
  "Yamato-e as the Origin" (Yoshizawa Memorial Museum of Art, Sano)
• 2016
  Solo Exhibition "Kirikane Glass Exhibition – Trip of Saio" (Nihombashi Takashimaya)
  IKI・SUI Exhibition (Somé Seiryukan, Kyoto)
  The Tale of Genji Exhibition: The DNA of Elegance (Kochi Literary Museum)
  ”Contemporary Japanese Crafts – The Kikuchi Kanjitsu Prize II" (Musee Tomo)
  "Kogei Snowdome" (Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditonal Arts and Crafts)
• 2017
  “Craftworks of Female Artists in Ishikawa” (Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art)
  Original x Real 2017 Contemporary Japanese Fine Arts & Crafts
  "Resonating Beauty” Yoshinori Tsuchiya, Masayasu Mitsuke and Akari Yamamoto (Gallery NOW, Toyama)
  Created "Shining Life” for the grand opening commemoration of Mikimoto Ginza Main Store
  Created wall decoration “Mizukaze-Sanka” for Twilight Express Mizukaze (West Japan Railway Company)
• 2018
  “Glittering Crafts, Shining Nihonga” (Yoshizawa Memorial Museum of Art, Sano)
  “Snow Design Competition Exhibition of Archives” (Nakaya Ukichiro Museum of Snow and Ice)
• 2019
  The 21st Mokichi Okada Award Exhibition (MOA Museum of Art)
• 2020
  “Creative Women 1940s-2000s” (Yoshizawa Memorial Museum of Art, Sano)
  "Contemporary Japanese Crafts: Reinterpretation, Exquisite Craftsmanship, and Aesthetic Exploration” (Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art)
  “Elegant Luster of Gold -Decoration of Kirikane technique-” (Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditional Art)
• 2021
  Solo Exhibition "Akane Yamamoto−The Decade of Kirikane Glass−” (Yokohama Sogo Art Gallery)
  "Contemporary Japanese Crafts: Reinterpretation, Exquisite Craftsmanship, and Aesthetic Exploration”
  (Miyazaki Art Center, Asahi Beer Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art)
  “MIYABI” (Yoshizawa Memorial Museum of Art, Sano)
  “Gamen no Mondai” (Yoshizawa Memorial Museum of Art, Sano)
  “Thirty Years of Toyama Institute of Glass Art : Forms for the Future” (Toyama Glass Art Museum)
  “Contemporary Women Artists of Japan: Six Stories” (British Museum)

Awards

• 2009
  Received the New Artist Incentive Award at the 38th Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2011
  Received the Excellent Artwork Award at the Toyama Institute of Glass Art Graduation Work Exhibition (artwork purchased by Toyama City)
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association Kinki Branch Manager Award at the 40th Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Award at the 23rd Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Gold Prize at the 6th Snow Design Competition
• 2013
  Received the Kyoto City New Artist Award for the year 2012
  Received the Incentive Award at the International Exhibition of Glass Kanazawa 2013
  Received the Best Category Prize in the 3D Category at the East-West Art Award Competition 2013 (London)
• 2014
  Received the NHK Chairman Award at the 61st Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2015
  Received the Incentive Award at the 35th POLA Traditional Culture Award
• 2016
  Received the34th Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Award, Incentive Award
  Received the Excellence Award at the 400-year Commemoration of Rimpa Art: Selected Works by New
  Artists, Rimpa Forever Exhibition
  Received the Kyoto Prefecture Akebono Award
• 2020
  Received the 33rd Kyoto Fine Arts Culture Award
• 2021
  Received the 1st Classics Day Prize

Public Collections

• Imperial Household Agency
• Toyama Glass Art Museum
• Nakaya Ukichiro Museum of Snow and Ice
• Yoshizawa Memorial Museum of Art, Sano
• British Museum (UK)