Kan Takahashi

About the Artist

Traditional Yuzen dyeing in modern designs

Yuzen dyeing is one of the dyeing techniques that represent Japan. Kan Takahashi started his career in dyeing as a teenager, and studied under Living National Treasure, Katsuma Nakamura. "Applying resist glue and dyeing. Applying resist glue again then dyeing. The fabric becomes sophisticated through this simple process." As Takahashi says, the patterns dyed on his fabric are geometric, but are not just practical patterns lacking warmth. Far from it, they even have a soft and warm impression. His kimonos where his unique designs are added to traditional Yuzen dyeing are enjoyed by many people.

Biography

• 1946
  Born in Tokyo
• 1965
  Graduated from Hachioji Technical High School (current Hachioji Soshi High School) Color Dyeing Department
  Studied under Katsuma NAKAMURA (Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property) as apprentice
• 1969
  Selected for the first time for the 9th East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Selected for the first time for the 16th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1973
  Established workshop in Nakano, Tokyo
• 1990
  Restoration Committee member of cultural heritage kimonos, a project lead by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and Japan Kogei Association
• 1994
  Participated in Important Intangible Cultural Property (Yuzen dyeing) Successors' Training Business lead by Mitsugi YAMADA (Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property)
• 2005
  Presided over the "Yuzen-no-kai" and held the "Beauty of Yuzen Dyeing" exhibition at Kitano Cutural Center, Kitano Museum of Art
• 2007
  "The Developing Yuzen Dyeing- Five-person Exhibition" at Wako Hall, Ginza
• 2010
  Becomes Director of Japan Kogei Association
• 2013
  Submitted to "Beautiful Japanese Silk - Yuzen Dyeing" Exhibition held at the Silk Museum
• 2014
  "Creation from Haiku - Dyeing and Calligraphy" Exhibition at Some Seiryu Museum of Art, Kyoto
• 2015
  Submitted to "The Presentness of Traditional Crafts" Exhibition (MOA Museum of Art)
  Kan Takahashi Yuzen Dyeing Exhibition at Sanrengura Gallery, Iida
• 2016
  Ceramics and Yuzen Dyeing Four-person Exhibition at Gallery Inoue, Inoue Department Store, Matsumoto
  Becomes Secretary General of Japan Kogei Association East Japan Branch
• 2017
  First solo exhibition at Ginza Motoji
• 2019
  Assistant at Kunihiko MORIGUCHI's Yuzen Dyeing Successors' Training Workshop
• 2020
  Submitted to "Kogei 2020 - The Art of Crafting Beauty from Nature" (Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo
• 2021
  Second solo exhibition at Ginza Motoji
• ----Present----
  Special member, judge and evaluator at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, Textiles Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, and East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

Awards

• 2008
  Received the Incentive Award at the 55th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2015
  Received the Incentive Award at the 62nd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2017
  Received the 36th National Costume Cultural Contributor Kimono Culture Award