Masakazu Ishihara

About the Artist

Breaking new ground in the field of lacquerware with high quality traditional techniques and modern designs

Masakazu Ishihara studied under Living National Treasure and Sanuki lacquerware artist, Kodo Otomaru, and was designated as Intangible Cultural Property of Kagawa prefecture for choshitsu (lacquer carving) in 2011. His specialties are choshitsu, which is applying layers of lacquer and carving patterns to make them look three dimensional, and tsuishitsu inlay, which is inlaying parts applied with layers of lacquer. He has been awarded several times at the Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition and the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the most recent artwork of artists representing Japan gather. He established his own style, "creating lacquerware that is beautiful, yet practical in our modern life style, using high quality, traditional techniques", and is currently taking on new challenges to make innovative lacquerware that has never been made before.

Style

My work is to produce urushi lacquerware, a Japanese traditional craft.
From approximately 6,000 years ago, when lacquerware started to be used in daily life, through to the present day, its techniques have been developed into one of the applied fine arts. I am exploring unconventional, new, and innovative lacquerware for the future.
While using the most advanced techniques of this traditional craft, I aim to create pieces that beautifully match and can be used in modern life.

Biography

• 1960
  Born in Takamatsu CIty, Kagawa Prefecture
• 1979
  Completed course at the Kagawa Urushi Lacquerware Institute
  Studied under Living National Treasure, Kodo Otomaru
• 1982
  Selected for the first time at the 29th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1992
  First solo exhibition at Seibu Department Store, Ikebukuro, Tokyo
• 1993
  Evaluator at the Shikoku Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1994
  Submitted to the "Choshitsu (Carved Lacquer) Today" Exhibition held at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
• 1995
  Solo exhibition at Seibu Department Store, Ikebukuro, Tokyo
  Evaluator at the Shikoku Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1996
  Solo exhibition at Gallery Torin, Takamatsu
• 2001
  Kodo Otomaru School Exhibition (Nihombashi Mitsukoshi, Takamatsu Mitsukoshi)
• 2002
  Solo exhibition at Gallery Tanaka (Ginza, Tokyo)
• 2011
  Designated as Intagible Cultural Property of Kagawa Prefecture for choshitsu
• 2017
  Evaluator at the 35th Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2021
  Evaluator at the 38th Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

Awards

• 1985
  Tokushima Shimbun Award, Shikoku Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1987
  Joshin Isoi Award, Shikoku Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1988
  Incentive Award, Shikoku Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1990
  Japan Kogei Association Award, Shikoku Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1991
  Takamatsu City Board of Education Award, Kagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition
  Joshin Isoi Award, Shikoku Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2003
  Japan Kogei Association Award, 20th Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
  Takamatsu City Board of Education Award, Kagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition
• 2004
  Japan Kogei Association Incentive Award, 51st Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2005
  Takamatsu City Cultural Encouragement Award
• 2006
  Governor Award, 71st Kagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition
• 2007
  50th Anniversary Special Award, 50th Shikoku Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2009
  Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award, 27th Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2010
  1st Kagawa Prefecture Traditional Crafts Matsudaira Public Interest Association Award
• 2012
  Special Award, 55th Shikoku Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2015
  Marukame CIty Board of Education Award, 80th Kagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition
  Asahi Shimbun Award, 33rd Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2018
  Kagawa Governor Award, 83rd Kagawa Prefectural Art Exhibition
  Kagawa Prefecture Cultural Arts Award
• 2020
  MOA Museum of Art Award, 38th Lacquerware Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

Official Site / Social Media etc.

• Official Site