Shigeto Suzuta

• Designation
  Living National Treasure (Important Intangible Cultural Property for Calico dyeing)
• Category
  Textiles
• Techniques
  Block print dyeing
• Born
  1954 -
• Based in
  Saga
• Membership
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
  

Style

His father SUZUTA Teruji poured his energy into researching and reviving the production technique of Nabeshima Sarasa (chintz) in which wood-block printing and paper patterns are jointly used. Shigeto followed in the footsteps of his father and after further research and repeated practice of the Sarasa woodblock printing technique, finally gained a high degree of mastery and established his unique style.
By simple repetition of a series or accumulation of small patterns and with his distinctive use of color, he creates fresh and structured geometric patterns, reminiscent of his Sarasa form of woodblock printing. The critically acclaimed works produced by his extraordinary skills, rich sensitivity to color, shape, and form, and his superb compositional ability are absolutely contemporary and a la mode.

Biography

• 1954
  Born in Kashima City, Saga Prefecture
• 1979
  Graduated from Department of Japanese Painting, Musashino Art University
• 1980
  Assisted restoration of a book of secrets in research of the revival of Nabeshima Sarasa (chintz) undertaken by his father Teruji
• 1981
  Succeeded his father and inherited the family business
• 1982
  Selected for 29th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition (first time), selected every year to date
• 1985
  Full member of the Japan Kōgei Association
• 2004
  Assumed post of Director of Japan Kōgei Association
• 2008
  Acknowledged as a holder of important intangible cultural property (Sarasa woodblock printing)
• 2009
  Jury member, 56th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition (successive service to date)
• Present
  Executive Director, Japan Kogei Association; Chairperson, Textile Department of Japan Kogei Association

Awards

• 1988
  Received the Agency for Cultural Affairs Commissioner's Award at the 25th Textiles Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1990
  Received the Tokyo Board of Education Award at the 27th Textiles Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1992
  Received the Agency for Cultural Affairs Commissioner's Award at the 29th Textiles Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1996
  Received the Incentive Award at the 43rd Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1998
  Received the Excellence Award at the 11th MOA Mokichi Okada Awards Exhibition
  Received the President of NHK Prize at the 45th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
• 2003
  Received the Excellence Award at the 23rd POLA Traditional Culture Awards