Akira Murayama

• Designation
  Living National Treasure (Important Intangible Cultural Property for Wood crafts)
• Category
  Wood and Bamboo
• Techniques
  Wiped lacquer finish, Hollow work
• Born
  1944 -
• Based in
  Kyoto
• Membership
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
  Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property for "Woodwork"
  Advisor of Japan Kōgei Association
  Representative of Group of Artists "Kogei Kyoto"
  Vice Chairman and Honorary Member of Kyoto Arts and Culture Foundation
  Advisor of Kyoto Kogei Association
  Director of the Ryozen Foundation

Biography

• 1944
  Born in Amagasaki CIty, Hyogo Prefecture
• 1966
  Graduated from Kyoto City University of Arts, Sculpture Department
• 1971
  Becomes Full Member of the Japan Kogei Association
• 1976
  Submitted "Zelcova Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" to the 5th Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Becomes evaluator and judge of the exhibition and submits as evaluator and judge from this year onward
• 1978
  Submitted "Zelcova Five-Tiered Box with Wiped Urushi Finish" to the ”Exhibition of Contemporary Handicraft Artists - in Kyoto and its Outlying Areas" (Kyoto City Museum of Art)
• 1981
  Becomes Evaluator at the 28th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Submits "Zelcova Letter Box with Wiped Urushi Finish" to the "Hakode Kangaeru 'Asobino Kibako' (Wooden Boxes for Fun)" Exhibition at the Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art
• 1983
  Submits "Zelcova Box for Books and Valuables with Wiped Urushi Finish" to "30 Years of Modern Japanese Traditional Crafts" Exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• 1984
  First Solo Exhibition at Osaka Hanyu Department Store, Umeda Main Store
• 1985
  Specially invited to submit "Zelcova Flower Shaped Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" to the Wood and Bamboo Traditional Kōgei New Works Exhibition
• Submitted "Zelcova Tiered Cosmetic Box with Wiped Urushi Finish" to the "15 Contemporary Urushi, Metalwork, and Woodwork Artists in Kyoto" Exhibition at Kyoto City Museum of Art (current Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art)
• 1986
  Submitted "Zelcova Shelf with Wiped Urushi Finish" to "Japanese Traditions – Master Woodwork Artists of the Present" Exhibition at Hokkaido Asahikawa Museum of Art
  Submitted "Zelcova Flower Shaped Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" to ”Kogei ― The Last Bearers of the Century" Exhibition at Suntory Museum of Art
• 1987
  Submitted "Zelcova Box for Books and Valuables with Wiped Urushi Finish" to "Modern Woodcraft" Exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
  Submitted "Zelcova Writing Desk with Wiped Urushi Finish" to the Traditional Kōgei Kinki Branch 4th Section Exhibition at the Kyoto City Museum of Art (current Kyoto City Kyocera Museum of Art)
• 1988
  First Solo Exhibition at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store
• 1989
  Zelcova Plate with Wiped Urushi Finish added to the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum (London)
• 1991
  Submitted "Zelcova Large Shelf with Wiped Urushi Finish" to "Art Exhibition 'Tsukuru' Encounters with 13 Craft Artists" at Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Mainstore etc.
• 1994
  "Large Zelcova Low Table with Wiped Urushi Finish" added to the collection of The Royal Museums of Art and History (Belgium)
  Submitted "Zelcova Flower Shaped Plate with Wiped Urushi Finish" to the 41st Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, artwork added to the collection of Hachinohe Art Museum
• 1995
  Submitted "Chestnut Boat Shaped Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" to "Crafts of Modern Kyoto" Exhibition at the Museum of Kyoto
  Invited and held a workshop at the "Japanese Studio Crafts" Exhibition at Victoria and Albert Museum (London)
  Submitted "Zelcova Plate with Wiped Urushi Finish"
• 1996
  Designated as Holder of Intangible Cultural Property of Kyoto for Woodwork
  Submitted "Zelcova Portable Shrine with Wiped Urushi Finish" etc. to the "Tradition and Creation" Exhibtion by Holders of Intangible Cultural Property of Kyoto
• 1997
  Zelcova Portable Shrine with Wiped Urushi Finish added to the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum (London)
• 1999
  Submitted "Zelcova Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" to "50 maîtres :les arts appliqués dans le Japon contemporain" (Hosted by NHK, Paris Mitsukoshi Etoile), tour exhibition in Japan afterwards
• 2000
  Submitted "Zelcova Tiered Box with Wiped Urushi Finish" etc. to ”UTSUWA" - Thoughts on Contemporary Vessels Exhibition at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• 2001
  Submitted "Zelcova Large Shelf with Wiped Urushi Finish" to "Crafts in Kyoto 1945 – 2000" at the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto and the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
  Submitted "Zelcova Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" to the Kyoto Kogei Association Selected Works Exhibition at City Art Centre (Edinburgh, UK)
  Submitted "Zelcova Plate with Wiped Urushi FInish" to "Contemporary Handicrafts: Tradition and Innovation" at Mie Prefectural Art Museum
• 2002
  Zelcova Large Shelf with Wiped Urushi Finish added to the collection of the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
• 2003
  "Zelcova Sutra Box with Wiped Urushi Finish" submitted to "Japan's Traditional Art Crafts A 50-Year Retrospective" Exhibition
  Designated as Important Intangible Cutural Property for "Woodwork"
• 2004
  Received the Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Merit Award
• 2005
  Two "Zelcova Chairs with Wiped Urushi Finish" and "Shoehorn" added to the collection of the Kyoto State Guest House
  "Zelcova Tray with Wiped urushi Finish" added to the collection of the Agency for Cultural Affairs
  "Boat Shaped Zelcova Tray" dedicated to Ise Jingu
  Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon
• 2007
  Submitted "Zelcova Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" to "Crafting Beauty in Modern Japan:Celebrating Fifty Years of the Japan Traditional Art Crafts" Exhibition at the British Museum (London, UK)
  Restored excavated articles from Aoyakamijichi Remains (Tottori) in NHK TV program "Living National Treasure - Challenging the Mysteries of Yayoi"
  "Tatsuaki Kuroda and His Apprentices" Exhibition at Galerie Yoshii (Ginza, Tokyo)
• 2008
  Submitted "Zelcova Portable Shrine with Wiped Urushi Finish", "Red Zelcova Flower Shaped Plate with Wiped Urushi Finish" and "Zelcova Tiered Box with Wiped Urushi Finish" to “Art of
  KOGEI, Esprit of Kyoto” held by "The Group of Artists Kogei Kyoto" at Kyoto Art Center and Espace Bértin Poirée (Paris, France)
  Becomes Manager of the Japan Kogei Association Wood and Bamboo Department (– 2015)
• 2010
  Created plaque with the temple's name ”Muryozan" for Tokujuin Muryozan, branch temple of Nishiarai Daishi
• 2011
  Submitted "Zelcova Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" and "Zelcova Long Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" to "Kansai Isu Now (Chairs in Kansai)" Exhibition at Asahi Beer Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art
  Successors training program by the Agency for Cultural Affairs
• 2012
  Submitted "Zelcova Shelf with Wiped Urushi Finish", "Red Zelcova Writing Desk with Wiped Urushi Finish" and "Red Zelcova Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" to "Passing on History and Traditional Kogei to the Present – The Beauty and Techniques of Living National Treasures" Exhibition at The Okura Tokyo
  Submitted "Zelcova Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" for the "Revival of the Japan Brand" Campaign under the promotion of "Cool Japan" lead by the Cabinet Office at Musée des Arts décoratifs (Paris, France) and Museum of Arts and Design (New York, USA)
  Submitted "Zelcova Boat Shaped Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" and ”Zelcova Low Table" to the "Ise Jingu Exhibtion"
  Documentary film ”Woodwork – The Art of Murayama Akira" filmed by the Agency for Cultural Affairs
• 2013
  Final filming of documentary film ”Woodwork – The Art of Murayama Akira" by the Agency for Cultural Affairs
  "Zelcova Flower Shaped Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" purchased by the Agency for Cultural Affairs
  Submitted "Bengal Red Zelcova Box with Wiped Urushi Finish" to the "Konosuke Matsushita and Japanese Traditional Art Crafts" Exhibition at Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art
  Submitted "Zelcova Low Table with Wiped Urushi Finish", "Persimmon Box with Wiped Urushi Finish", and "Zelcova Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" to the "Tradition and Creation" Exhibition at the Museum of Kyoto
  Submitted "Zelcova Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish", "Persimmon Box with Wiped Urushi Finish" and "Zelcova Low Table with Wiped Urushi FInish" to “Art of KOGEI, Esprit of Kyoto” held by "The Group of Artists Kogei Kyoto" at Takato Museum of Arts (Nagano) http://www.mapbinder.com/Map/Japan/Nagano/InaShi/ArtMuseum/ArtMuseum.html, Chushin Art Museum (Kyoto), and Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum
  Submitted "Spiral Lined Zelcova Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" to the "Bi no Time Capsule (Time Capsule of Beauty)" Exhibition at the Museum of Kyoto
  Submitted "Spiral Lined Zelcova Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" to "From Crafts to Kōgei In Commemoration of the 60th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition" at The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• 2014
  Commentator for the "60th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition - Engendering Beauty, Preserving Techniques: Artworks by Living National Treasures" at Tokyo National Museum, Heiseikan 2F
  Submitted "Zelcova Round Flower Shaped Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" to "The Present of Living National Treasures" Exhibition at Tokyo National Museum, Heiseikan 1F
  Documentary film ”Woodwork – The Art of Murayama Akira" filmed by the Agency for Cultural Affairs previewed at the National Theatre, Tokyo
  Received the The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette
  Repaired the three-legged stool make by Tatsuaki Kuroda upon request from film director, Akira Kurosawa (Toyota Municipal Museum of Art)
• 2015
  Judge and Evaluator at the 1st Kyoto Arts and Culture Foundation Exhibition held at Kyoto Art Center
  Submitted "Zelcova Tray with Wiped Urushi Finish" to "Celebrating 400 Years of Rimpa, Exhibition of 200 Contemporary Artists in Kyoto" Exhibition at the Museum of Kyoto
  Chief Judge at the 30th National Cultural Festival, "National Woodcraft Festival in Yakushima"
  Awarded as Kyoto Prefecture Person of Cultural Merits
• 2016
  Dedicated the "Zelcova Table with Wiped Urushi Finish" to Ise Jingu
  "70 Years of Collaboration, 400 Years of Rimpa Art History:An Exhibition of Over 200 Works of Art by Kyoto Artists to Celebrate Traditional Kyoto Art and Culture" at the Museum of Kyoto
  "Celebrating 400 Years of Rimpa, Exhibition of 200 Contemporary Artists in Kyoto" Exhibition at Nihombashi Takashimaya (Tokyo)
  "The Creation of Kōgei Living National Treasures" Exhibition at Wako, Ginza (Tokyo)
  Designated as Honorary Member of Kyoto Arts and Culture Foundation
  Dedicated "Zelcova Table with Wiped Urushi Finish" to Yakushiji Temple
• 2017
  Kyoto Arts and Culture Foundation35th Annivesary Program "Miyako no Bunka Emaki II Akira Murayama x Nobuko Ise Talk Event" at Kyoto Art Center
  “Art of KOGEI, Esprit of Kyoto 2017” held by "The Group of Artists Kogei at Takehara Museum of Art (Hiroshima) and Chushin Art Museum (Kyoto)
  "The Creation of Kōgei Living National Treasures" Exhibition at Wako, Ginza (Tokyo)
  "Living National Treasure Akira Murayama Exhibition" at Takashimaya Kyoto and Osaka
  The 7th International Exhibition of Traditional Fine Arts at the Shanghai Art Collection Museum
  "Light, Art, Chokyoto" Exhibition at Old Mitsui Family Shimogamo Villa, Kyoto
  "Traditional Kōgei in Everyday Life" Exhibition at MOA Museum of Art
• 2018
  "Kyoto Kogei Association Exhibition" at Liu Haisu Art Museum (Shanghai)
• "Tradition and Creation – Artworks by Holders of Intangible Cultural Properties in Kyoto" Exhibition at the Museum of Kyoto
• 2019
  “Art of KOGEI, Esprit of Kyoto 2019” at Chushin Art Museum (Kyoto)

Awards

• 1970
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Award for the "Zelcova Box for Books and Valuables with Wiped Urushi Finish" at the 17th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, selected many times from this year onward
• 1972
  Received the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Award for the "Zelcova Box with Wiped Urushi Finish" at the 1st Wood and Bamboo Traditional Kōgei New Works Exhibition
• 1973
  Received the Matsushita Award at the 2nd Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1975
  Received the Kyoto Board of Education Award for the "Zelcova Box with Wiped Urushi Finish" at the 3rd Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, currently owned by the Panasonic Shiodome Museum
• 1980
  Received the Grand Award for the "Zelcova Box with Wiped Urushi Finish" at the Kyoto Kōgei Art Exhibition
• 1982
  Received the Incentive Award at the Kyoto Kōgei Art Exhibition
• 1992
  Received the Kinki Traditional Kōgei Award at the 21st Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2018
  Received the Kyoto Arts and Culture Foundation Award

Public Collections

• Victoria and Albert Museum
• The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto
• Agency for Cultural Affairs
• Hachinohe Art Museum
• Yakuno Woodware and Lacquerware Facility (Fukuchiyama, Kyoto)
• Kyoto State Guest House
• The Museum of Kyoto
• Panasonic Shiodome Museum of Art
• Jingu Art Museum
• Yakushiji Temple
• Royal Museums of Art and History