Mitsuhiko Okura

Style

Upon returning to the Shinshu region, I was moved again by such natural phenomena as sounds, light, scents, or heat, and all of them inspired my creative urge, and became the themes and motifs of my works. I aim to make pieces that allow me to express their subtle expressions. In addition, I would like to carefully maintain the mochinori itome (rice resist paste) technique, which is essential to the Yuzen dyeing style developed in the Edo period.

Biography

• 1953
  Born in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture
• 1976
  Graduated from the Yuzen Dyeing Course at the Otsuka Textile Design Institute
  Studied under YAMADA Mitsugi
• 1980
  Contemporary Textiles 20-men Exhibition
• 1989
  Selected for the 36th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition for the first time
• 1990
  Participated in the restoration of the “Shiroasaji Shunjubugaku-moyo Katabira” (stored at the Tokyo National Museum) by the Japan Arts Council Fund(-1995)
• 1997
  Left his master YAMADA Mitsugi (Important Intangible Cultural Property Holder) and beame independent. Started his studio in Iida City
• 2004
  2 Yuzen Kimonos stored at the Silk Museum, Yokohama
• 2005
  “The Beauty of Yuzen” 6-men Exhibition in Nagano (Kitano Cultural Center, Kitano Museum of Art)
• 2013
  “The Beautiful Japanese Silk Yuzen” 10-man Exhibition at the Silk Museum, Yokohama
• 2014
  2-men exhibition in April
  Solo exhibition in June
• Others
  Group exhibitions at Nagoya Matsuzakaya, Nagano Tokyu, Matsumoto Inoue, and the Kantenpapa Hall

Awards

• 1977
  Received the Incentive Award at the 2nd National New Textile Artists Exhibition