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FEMALE FEATURE EXHIBITION: WOMEN IN KOGEI
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It is important we emphasize the struggle it has been for many of our female artists to create a successful career for themselves in 'Kogei' a male-dominated field for centuries. We introduce and spotlight our female artists work to the Western market and into American's homes- whom have the space and platform to uplift their voices, as we continue their stories together.
Three of the female metalwork artists were most recently featured at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: Japan Metalwork Exhibition (March 8, 2021-April 24, 2022). This exhibition was included in Japan: a History of Style, a part of the Museum's 150 year celebration program.
This month is for female Japanese contemporary artist; including Onishi Gallery's distinguished female Living National Treasure. Below, please take note of four female contemporary Japanese metalwork artists and one ceramicist as we highlight them each in detail. -
Tokuda Yasokichi IV (b. 1961)
Specialty: Inherited production from her father Living National Treasure, Tokuda Yasokichi III (1933-2009). She also utilizes methods of the Tokuda family style of Kutani porcelain production, especially saiyu glazing where arrangements and gradations of color play a central role in ornamentation, rather than the pictorial designs of birds, flowers and figures seen in conventional Kutani-ware.
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Tokuda's personal sensibility as a female artist gives her a novel perspective on tradition, reflected in her diverse choices of colors and unique interpretations of form. -
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Jar-Ryuu "Rain", 2010
Porcelain with vivid colored glaze (yôsai)
10 1/4 × 8 1/4 in (26 × 21 cm) -
Saiyu Jar, 2010
Porcelain with vivid colored glaze (yôsai)
12 3/4 × 9 3/4 in (32.4 × 24.8 cm) -
Incense Burner - Sou "Play", 2014
Porcelain with vivid colored glaze (yôsai)
4 3/4 × 4 3/4 in (12.1 × 12.1 cm)
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Harvest Moon, 2015
porcelain with vivid colored glaze (yôsai)
26 3/8 in diameter (67 cm diameter)
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Osumi Yukie (b. 1945)
Living National Treasure (2015)Specialty: Tankin, or hammered vessels and applies the traditional technique of nunomezōgan to the decorative and functional pieces that Osumi creates. She creates a formless and flowing affinity with nature.
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She not only became the first female Living National Treasure in Metal Work in history but is the only female established in this category. -
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Otsuki Masako (b. 1943)
Specialty: Techniques that meet refined designs to appeal to audiences; by applying the 'hatsuri' shave and carve technique, carving distinctive and fine-angled lines into base metals using chisels. This technique gives the work a unique three-dimensional effect with depth and shadow.
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Despite the varying degrees of solubility, Otsuki expertly manipulates the gold, silver, copper and copper-silver alloy, lending metal—a cold medium, a feeling of warmth and life. -
Hagino Noriko (b. 1949)
Specialty: Metal-forging and heat-welding technique known as hagiawase, a method she learned from Living National Treasure Sekiya Shirō (1907-1994). Hagino takes almost six months to complete each project.
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Hagino uses the natural hues of the metals as colors to create fluid patterns on her work, silver becoming white, copper becoming red, and an alloy of a mix of gold and copper becoming gold. -
Oshiyama Motoko (b. 1958)
Specialty: Oshiyama creates swirling patterns through her technique of welding together two or more metals such as silver and shakudō (a mixture of gold and copper). She gives distinction to her works with her modern sense of design, focusing on geometric and abstract patterns.
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The results are works that straddle the separation between “art” and “craft,” aiming to create objects that aesthetically enrich our environments and lives
Female Feature Exhibition
Past viewing_room
