Hiroaki Matsubara

About the Artist

Trying New Styles of Lacquer Art with Exquisite Urushi Carving

Hiroaki Matsubara was born and raised in Kagawa where the tradition of lacquerware from the Edo period lives on. Matsubara studied under lacquer artist Shozo Kitaoka and Living National Treasure Kodo Otomaru to learn urushi carving, one of the techniques of Kagawa Lacquerware. Urushi carving is a high level technique where layers of color urushi lacquer is applied onto the base and is carved to create patterns. Matsubara uses familiar animals and plants in nature for his motifs. He is highly evaluated for trying new styles of lacquer art using traditional techniques, and has been awarded at the Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the top lacquer artists in Japan gather several times. He is currently an instructor at Kagawa Urushi Lacquerware Institute and is committed to teaching the next generation.

Biography

• 1985
  Graduated from the Urushi Art Course at the Kagawa Prefectural Takamatsu-Kougei High School
• 1988
  Completed the Researcher Course at the Urushi Lacquer Ware Institute
  Studied under Urushi artist KITAOKA Shozo
• 1989
  Studied under Living National Treasure OTOMARU Kodo as an apprentice
• 2009
  Held the “Saika – Sanuki Urushi 3-men Exhibition” at the Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art
  First solo exhibition at Shirasaki Gallery, Yamagata Prefecture
• 2012
  Solo exhibition at Shirasaki Gallery, Yamagata Prefecture

Awards

• 1996
  Received the Incentive Award at the Japan Kogei Association Shikoku Branch Exhibition
• 1999
  Received the Agency for Cultural Affairs Superintendent’s Award at the Exhibition of Japanese Traditional Urushi Works
• 2000
  Received the Takamatsu Board of Education Award at the Kagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition
• 2001
  Received the Takamatsu Board of Education Award at the Kagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition
• 2002
  Received the Japan Kogei Association Award at the Japan Kogei Association Shikoku Branch Exhibition
• 2003
  Received the Japan Kogei Association Award at the Japan Kogei Association Shikoku Branch Exhibition
• 2005
  Received the Kagawa Board of Education Award at the Kagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition
• 2008
  Received the Agency for Cultural Affairs Superintendent’s Award at the Exhibition of Japanese Traditional Urushi Works
• 2009
  Received the Governor of Kagawa Award at the Kagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition
• 2010
  Received the Kagawa Traditional Art Crafts Matsudaira Social Welfare Association Award