Seizo Kawaguchi

About the Artist

Creating Forms and Beauty of Wood Grain with Hollowed-out Woodwork

Hollowed-out woodwork is made by carving a block of wood with chisels and planes. Using the hollowing technique, woodwork artist Seizo Kawaguchi produces woodwork of various forms, making the most of the beautiful wood grains. Kawaguchi has been awarded at many traditional craft exhibitions. In 2021, he received the grand award, MEXT Award at the Wood and Bamboo Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the artwork of woodwork artists representing Japan, including Living National Treasures, are gathered. In 2020, he received the Medal with Purple Ribbon, a medal awarded to those who have made contributions in the art field. Kawaguchi's woodworks with beautiful forms and wood grains with more character added by finishing with wiped urushi, charms those who see them with their lively looks.

Style

Using the hollowing technique to hollow vessels from a block of wood.
It is possible to create various forms using the hollowing technique, and the grain patterns come out differently depending on the form. I aim to make the most of the wood grains and create unique forms.

Biography

• 1962
  Born in Nagoya, Aichi
• 1984
  Graduated from Aichi University of Education, Department of Art
• 1992
  Selected for the 23rd Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time (selected every year from this year onward)
  Selected for the 39th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition for the first time (selected 30 times from this year onward)
• 1996
  Becomes Full Member of the Japan Kōgei Association
• 2002
  Judge at the 33rd Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (12 times from this year onward)
• 2010
  "Seizo Kawaguchi Woodwork Exhibition" at Seto City Art Museum
• 2011
  Judge and Evaluator at the 13th Wood and Bamboo Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (also in 2017)
  Participated in successors training program led by Akira Murayama, Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property for woodwork
• 2014
  Evaluator at the 61st Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (also in 2018, 2020, and 2022)
• 2015
  Submitted to "Made in Aichi - Bridge for Kogei" at Furukawa Art Museum (Nagoya)
  Submitted to "Utsuwa from Tokai, Koshinetsu" Exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Crafts Itami
• 2020
  Submitted to "Aichi Art and Craft 2020" at Furukawa Art Museum (Nagoya)

Awards

• 1992
  Received the Nagoya Mayor Award at the 23rd Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1994
  Received the Aichi Prefectural Board of Education Award at the 25th Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1997
  Received the Chunichi Award at the 28th Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1998
  Received the Chubu Kintetsu Award at the 29th Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1999
  Received the Nagoya Mayor Award at the 30th Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2001
  Received the Gifu Takashimaya Award at the 32nd Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2005
  Received the Maruei Award at the 36th Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2007
  Received the Tokyo Governor Award at the 54th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2013
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association Award at the 14th Wood and Bamboo Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2014
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association Award (Grand Award) at the 45th Tōkai Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2018
  Received the Japan Kōgei Association Important Intangible Cultural Property Holder Award at the 65th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2020
  Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon
• 2021
  Received the Aichi Prefecture Arts and Culture Award, Cultural Award
  Received the MEXT Award (Grand Award) at the 18th Wood and Bamboo Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2022
  Received the Excellence Award at the POLA Traditional Culture Award
• 2025
  Japan Kōgei Association Incentive Award, 72nd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

Official Site / Social Media etc.

• Instagram