Hafu Matsumoto

About the Artist

Pursuing the Beauty of Bamboo Forms by Making the Most of Its Characteristics

Hafu Matsumoto is a bamboo artist receiving much attention with his artwork currently being exhibited at the "LOEWE Crafted World Tokyo", LOEWE's first major exhibition. Matsumoto studied under Living National Treasure Shokansai Iizuka, and is pursuing the unique beauty of bamboo forms while making the most of its characteristics. He has a wide variation of artworks, from sashiami weave and ajiro weave items using thin bamboo strips, to those with dynamic designs using stretched out bamboo, and has received many awards including the Japan Kōgei Association Chairman's Award. In February 2025, he held a production demonstration at a hotel in Niseko, Hokkaido in collaboration with Gallery Japan and entertained many travellers from overseas with his way of approaching bamboo.

Biography

• 1952
  Born in Haneda, Tokyo
• 1972
  Studied bamboo art under IIZUKA Shokansai (Living National Treasure)
• 1976
  Opened a bamboo craft studio in Sunamachi, Koto Ward, Tokyo
• 1988
  Relocated studio to Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture
• 1996
  July to August: Group exhibition of bamboo art at Felissimo Design House, New York
• 2001
  Solo exhibition at Daimaru Department Store, Tokyo
• 2003
  Solo exhibition and NHK broadcast from the Gangetsu-an Tea Room, Shiroyama Park, Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture
• 2004
  Solo exhibition at Ippodo Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo
• 2009
  Invited to exhibit for "The New Bamboo - Modern Japanese Masters-" at Oita Prefectural Art Museum
• 2011
  Exhibited, lectured on bamboo craft for "From Father Shokansai to the Apprentices" about Iizuka Shokansai in Ota City, Gunma Prefecture
• 2012
  Selected for "Exhibition of Tea Ceremony Today- Utility and Form", at Musée Tomo, Toranomon, Tokyo
• 2013
  Exhibited in "The birth of modern bamboo art" at the Tochigi Kuranomachi Museum of Art
  Relocated to Minamiboso City, Chiba Prefecture
• 2017
  Solo exhibition at Ippodo, New York
• 2019
  Collaborated with LOEWE (Spanish fashion brand) to release bamboo products for Milan Fashion Week

Awards

• 2004
  Received the "Cotsen Bamboo Prize" Semi Grand Prix, exhibited at Asian Art Museum, San Francisco
• 2007
  Received the Best New Artist Prize at the 54th Japan Kogei Exhibition
• 2008
  Received the Highest Prize "Tokyo Governor Prize" at the 48th Eastern Branch Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
• 2014
  Received the Chairman of the Japan Kogei Association Prize at the 61st Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition