Akira Watanabe

About the Artist

Expressing the beauty of light with unique techniques

Glass artist, Akira Watanabe has received many awards with his exquisite artwork. He also received the Medal with Purple Ribbon which is a medal awarded to distinguished persons in the field of art in 2008. After graduating from Kyoto University, he learned glass working in Australia and developed his original glass layering technique called "sekiso". Gold powder and colored glass grains sprinkled between the layers of glass sparkle within the glass, and prisms of light are created by cutting the glass with traditional "Kiriko" (cut glass) techniques. His artwork charms those who see them.

Style

WATANABE mainly works with the kiriko (cut) technique; however, he has also developed his own unique layering technique, in which powdered gold, colored glass grains or the like are dusted between several glass sheets to give a decorative effect; the sheets are then fused by using an electric furnace to create the base material with patterns of light captured inside the glass.

Biography

• 1959
  Born in Kobe City
• 1984
  Graduated from Kyoto University
• 1989
  Studied at the Glasfachschule Kramsach, Austria
• 1996
  TANKO Biennale Tea Ceremony Art Open Call Exhibition
• 2006
  Evaluator at the 53rd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2008
  Received the Medal with Purple Ribbon
• 2009
  Designated as a Kyoto Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property Holder for “Kiriko Glass"
• 2010
  “About the Tea Ceremony – A Viewpoint on Contemporary Kogei" (National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo)
• 2013
  “Tradition and Creation – By Kyoto Prefectural Intangible Cultural Property Holders-" (Museum of Kyoto)
  “From Crafts to Kogei – In Commemoration of the 60th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition" (National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo)
• 2017
  Evaluator at the 64th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, art work purchased by the Imperial Household Agency
• 2019
  The 21st Mokichi Okada Award Exhibition at the MOA Museum of Art

Awards

• 1992
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Award at the 8th Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Japan Kogei Association Chairman Award at the 39th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1994
  Received the Osaka Board of Education Award at the 23rd Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1995
  Received the Incentive Award at the 24th Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1996
  Received the Kinki Award at the 25th Kinki Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2004
  Received the Japan Kogei Association Chairman Award at the 51st Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2007
  Received the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award at the 21st Other Crafts Traditional Kōgei Exhibition