Kei Eda

About the Artist

Contemporary Metalwork Using Ancient Japanese Iron

Japanese pig iron is an iron processed in an ancient Japanese way by smelting iron sand with charcoal. Metalwork artist Kei Eda produces tea ceremony kettles and iron kettles using this Japanese pig iron. He also makes "Matsukasa (pine cone shaped) Wind Chimes" , which are the only wind chimes in Japan made from iron sand. The production method is passed down only from father to son, is strictly confidential, and cannot be shared with anyone. As Eda says, "I try to make artwork with modern designs using traditional techniques", his modern looking works of art are fascinating. He has received many awards at the Metalwork Traditional Kōgei Exhibition where the top metalwork artists in Japan gather, and is receiving much attention not only in Japan, but also from collectors overseas.

Style

Creating Japanese tea ceremony tea kettles and iron kettles from Japanese pig iron which is made during the process of tatara iron making. I try to make pieces that have a modern feel using traditional techniques.

Biography

• 1957
  Born in Miyagi Prefecture as the 23rd generation of the Eda family, metal caster of the Date domain
• 1976
  Studied under first generation Tetsushi Nagano, Living National Treasure (tea kettles)
• 1988
  Took part in the "National Cast Iron Art Conference" held in the USA
• 2001
  Took part in and submitted to the Japan-Korea International Craft Exhibition
• 2004
  Invited to submit to the Japan-USA International Tea Ceremony Exchange Exhibition
  Lecture on "Japanese Metalwork" at University of Minnesota and Carleton College (Northfield, Minnesota) Demonstration and guidance of metal casting
• 2010
  Submitted to "About the Tea Ceremony - A Viewpoint on Contemporary Kôgei" at the National Crafts Museum
• 2012
  Submitted to the Mokichi Okada Award Exhibition at the MOA Museum of Art
• 2013
  Submitted to "From Crafts to Kōgei In Commemoration of the 60th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition" at The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo

Awards

• 1982
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Award at the Metalworks Traditional Kōgei New Works Exhibition
• 1985
  Received the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award at the Metalworks Traditional Kōgei New Works Exhibition
• 1986
  Received the Incentive Award at the Contemporary Metalwork Exhibition
• 1990
  Received the Katori Award at the Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1995
  Received the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Award at the East Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 1996
  Received the Excellence Award at the "Tradition and Creation: Tea Arts for the 21st Century" Exhibition
• 2001
  Received the NHK Chairman Award at the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2017
  Received the Grand Award at the 9th Sano Renaissance Metalwork Exhibition
• 2018
  Received the MEXT Award at the Metalworks Traditional Kōgei Exhibition

Public Collections

• Hagi Uragami Museum

Official Site / Social Media etc.

• Official Site