Fumihiko Arakawa

About the Artist

Pursuing the Beauty of Urushi Lacquer with Outstanding Techniques

Lacquerware artist Fumihiko Arakawa creates his artwork in the Yamanaka Onsen District of Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture where Yamanaka-nuri (lacquerware) is produced. Yamanaka-nuri is known for making the most of the wood grain of the wooden base, but Arakawa uses a lacquering technique called "kyushitsu", and is highly evaluated for his work with beautiful urushi lacquering. He has received many awards following his first selection for the Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the artworks of top level lacquerware artists in Japan, from Living National Treasures to up-and-coming artists gather in 1994. With his outstanding techniques, Arakawa creates a smooth texture by making the most of the original gloss of urushi lacquer. His artwork has a deep charm that comes from the rich appearance of urushi lacquer.

Style

I make the most of the natural luster of lacquer and finish it using the nuritate technique, a technique to apply a finishing coat of lacquer and allow it to harden without polishing. I then add decorations using gold and silver wires.

Biography

• 1961
  Born in Yamanaka Town, Enuma County, Ishikawa Prefecture
• 1980
  Studied under lacquer artist Shozo Ishikawa
• 1989
  Entered the Arakawa Urushi Studio
• 1995
  Designated as Traditional Craftsman by the Minister of International Trade and Industry
• 1999
  Becomes Full Member of the Japan Kōgei Association
• 2002
  Solo exhibition "Kaga City" at Gallery Hagi
• 2010
  Solo exhibition "Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture" at Green Arts Gallery
• 2015
  Guest lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts
• 2017
  Two-person exhibition "Where the Wind Goes, The Starry Path" at Wako, Ginza
  Solo exhibition "Future Vision of Lacquerware - Kaga City-" at Gallery Hagi
• 2018
  Submitted to "URUSHI Tradition and Innovation"Exhibition
• 2022
  Evaluator at the Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Guest lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts
• 2025
  Two-person exhibition "Playing Between Color Painting and Lacquer " at Wako, Ginza

Awards

• 1994
  Selected for the Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (selected a number of times from this year onward)
• 1995
  Selected for the Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (selected a number of times from this year onward)
  Selected for the 43rd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (selected a number of times from this year onward)
• 1998
  Received the Incentive Award at the Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Selected for the 45th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2002
  Received the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Award at the Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2005
  Received the Incentive Award at the Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the MEXT Award at the 52nd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Artwork purchased by the Agency for Cultural Affairs
• 2007
  Received the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award at the Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2008
  Received the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Award at the Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2010
  Received the MOA Museum of Art Award at the Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2015
  Received the Hokkoku Bank President Award at the Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2017
  Received the NHK Kanazawa Broadcasting Station Manager Award at the Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2019
  Received the Grand Award at the Ishikawa Contemporary Arts Exhibition, General Division
• 2020
  Received the MOA Museum of Art Award at the Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2021
  Received the Wajima Museum of Urushi Art Award at the Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Received the Hokkoku Shimbun President Award at the Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2023
  Received the Ishikawa Governor Award at the Ishikawa Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2024
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Award at the Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition