Kimiko Shirabe

• Category
  Wood and Bamboo
• Techniques
  Plaited bamboo
• Born
  1957 -
• Based in
  Yamaguchi
• Membership
  Full member, Japan Kogei Association
  

About the Artist

Creating Unique Beauty with Plaiting and Parallel Construction Techniques

Kimiko Shirabe encountered bamboo works in Oita Prefecture where the first bamboo work artist to become a Living National Treasure, Shounsai Shono was from, and started her career as a bamboo work artist herself. She has been selected for several traditional craft exhibitions including the Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition, and received the Japan Kōgei Association Yamaguchi Branch Manager Award at the 43rd Yamaguchi Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 2020 and the 46th Yamaguchi Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 2023. Shirabe studied under Shono's apprentice, Kochikusai Tanabe for many years and learned traditional plaiting and parallel construction techniques. She also learned bundle plaiting techniques from Living National Treasure Soho Katsushiro. By combining these techniques, she is currently trying to create her original and unique artwork. Expectations are high for even more beautiful bamboo works.

Style

I use the nawame hishi sashiami (rope and lozenge plaiting) technique on producing my artwork. Recently, I weave an "armor" over this. As the shadows of the woven bamboo are beautiful when looking into the vessel, I have been making vessels with wide mouths for the past 2 years as I wanted people to see more of the inside of the vessel.

I am also working on bundle plaiting. I made a basket using this technique which I learned from Soho Katsushiro during 2017 – 2018, and received the Yamaguchi Branch Manager Award at the Yamaguchi Traditional Kōgei Exhibition in 2020.

I am also using a technique called kushimeami which my master Kochikusai Tanabe learned from his master Shounsai Shono (Living National Treasure), and am trying to make a new form with this technique.

Biography

• 1957
  Born in Yamaguchi (currently living in Yamaguchi)
• 1988
  Moves to Oita (– 2019)
  Learns about bamboo work in Oita and studies under Kochikusai Tanabe (apprentice of Shounsai Shono)
  Has been producing bamboo artwork from this year onward
• Selected for:
  The Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition 3 times
  The Wood and Bamboo Traditional Kōgei Exhibition twice
  The West Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition 12 times
• I moved to Oita when my husband was transferred and learned bamboo craft there.
  I started from submitting to public entry exhibitions once a year and built my career slowly for more than 20 years.
  I moved back to Yamaguchi with my family, and am currently working on my artwork at home.

Awards

• 2008
  Received the Beppu Mayor Award at the Bamboo Crafts in Our Daily Life Exhibition
• 2015
  Received the Kounsai Award at the Bamboo Crafts in Our Daily Life Exhibition
• 2016
  Received the Kounsai Award at the Bamboo Crafts in Our Daily Life Exhibition
• 2019
  Received the Tsuruya Department Store Award at the West Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition (Beauty of Use Division)
• 2020
  Received the Branch Manager Award at the Yamaguchi Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2023
  Received the Branch Manager Award at the Yamaguchi Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2025
  Hagi-Yamaguchi Shinkin Bank Award, 48th Yamaguchi Traditional Kōgei Exhibition
• 2026
  Yamaguchi Asahi Broadcasting Station (yab) Award, 49th Yamaguchi Traditional Kōgei Exhibition