Kiun Nitta

• Category
  Wood and Bamboo
• Techniques
  Wood joinery, Wood inlay, Hollow work
• Born
  1944 -

Style

As the main material, NITTA uses precious imported hardwood (rosewood, ebony, Bombay blackwood, or Burmese rosewood), and employs traditional techniques to create modern works by applying thin-line inlay with Japanese boxwood. He produces many different types of work ranging in size from side boards to tea scoops. In 2007 or so, NITTA started incorporating his own ideas into his pieces.

Biography

• 1944
  Born in Yahata Village, Arida County, Wakayama Prefecture
• 1952
  Graduated from the Crafts Course at the Wakayama Technical High School
  Entered SANYO Electric Co., Ltd
• 1970
  Entered the world of Karaki woodwork under his father Nitta Ryuzo
• 1980
  Became independent and started producing works
• 1985
  First solo exhibition. Held 17 solo exhibitions at locations such as Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi and Namba Takashimaya
• 1986
  Selected for the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition for the first time. Selected 31 times to date
• 1989
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
• 1995
  Received the Arita City Cultural Award
• 2000
  Received the title of Master Craftsman from Wakayama Prefecture
• 2009
  His work received the Minister of Education, Science and Culture Prize and was purchased by the Agency for Cultural Affairs
• 2014
  Box of red sandalwood with wood inlay decoration. "Milky way" was purchased by the Imperial Household Agency
• 2018
  Involved with constructing a replica of a treasure "Raden Shitan no Gogen Biwa" from the Shosoin Repository (Imperial Household Agency)

Awards

• 1988
  Received the Special Prize (Governor’s Award) at the 42nd Wakayama Prefectural Art Exhibition
• 1989
  Received the Osaka Board of Education Award at the 18th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Kinki Exhibition
• 1990
  Received the Japan Kogei Association Award at the Traditional Bamboo and Wood Exhibition
  Received the Tanko Award and the Bronze Award at the ’90 Arts of the Tea Ceremony for Tomorrow Exhibition
• 1991
  Received the Japan Kogei Association Award at the 20th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Kinki Exhibition
• 1992
  Received the Incentive Award at the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
  Received the Special Grand Award and the Urasenke Sensoshitsu Special Award at the Tanko Biennale
• 1994
  Received the Nara Board of Education Superintendent’s Award at the 23rd Japan Traditional Art Crafts Kinki Exhibition
  Received the Urasenke Sensoshitsu Incentive Award at the Tanko Biennale
  Received the Asahi Shimbun Prize at the Traditional Bamboo and Wood Exhibition
• 1996
  Received the Sado Art Grand Prize at the Tanko Biennale
• 2008
  Received the Minister of Education, Science and Culture Prize at the 55th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition