Shimaoka Tatsuzo 島岡達三 1919-2007

Dai Ichi Arts is delighted to present the first ever solo exhibition of the works of Mingei artist Murata Gen in North America. The show will explore the plethora of vessels & functional forms Murata created, with an emphasis on his sensitivity for painted clay surfaces. “The Heart’s Eye: In Search of Murata Gen” illustrates an affectual and emotional side of Mingei craft expression through the works of Murata Gen alongside the works of his contemporaries (Shimaoka Tatsuzo, Shoji Hamada, Kawai Kanjiro, and Matsuzaki Ken) in modern & contemporary Japan.

Murata Gen has been a favorite of Mingei collectors for decades, but his works have never received the recognition they deserve. Considered as the underdog of the Mingei folk-craft canon in the world of Japanese ceramics, Murata Gen’s works are underestimated, influential, and remarkable, all foregrounded by his training in classical painting. This exhibition aims to celebrate and establish him as an important part of Mashiko, Mingei, and Japanese folk-craft modern history. Influenced by the likes of Yanagi Soetsu, Mingei craft, Mashiko, and the art of yakimono pottery, Murata Gen's humble beginnings and storied career is sure to delight collectors of modern & contemporary design. The show includes a full digital exhibition catalog as part of our digital library.

“Living National Treasure” is a popular term for the title, Preservers of Important Intangible Cultural Properties (重要無形文化財保持者). The honors began in 1947, when Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs created the system in order to preserve cultural or artistic skill sets, a piece of heritage that is “intangible”. Dai Ichi Arts is delighted to present a group exhibition of the exceptional works of Japan’s ceramic Living National Treasures, on the occasion of March Asia Week 2023. “Intangible Heritage: The Art of Japan’s Living National Treasures” shows the modern masters in a new light. From porcelain to stoneware; from celadon to iron glazes, expect a stunning range of ceramic techniques. The artists showcased are pioneers and leaders of their respective craft, whose legacies continue to inspire around the world.

List of Artists featured: ● SHIMIZU Uichi 清水 卯一（b.1926-2004) Designated LNT in 1985 ● KONDO Yuzo 近藤悠三 (b.1902-1985) Designated LNT in 1977 ● TOKUDA Yasokichi Ⅲ 3代 徳田八十吉 (b.1933-2009) Designated LNT in 1997 ● HAMADA Shoji 濱田庄司 (b.1894 - 1978) Designated LNT in 1955 ● NAKAJIMA Hiroshi 中島宏 (b.1941-2018) Designated LNT in 2007 ● FUJIWARA Yu 藤原雄 (b.1932- 2001) Designated LNT in 1996 ● HARA Kiyoshi 原 清 (b.1936) Designated LNT in 2005 ● MATSUI Kosei 松井康成 (b.1927-2003) Designated LNT in 1993 ● TAMURA Koichi 田村耕一 (1918-1987) Designated LNT in 1986 ● SHIMAOKA Tatsuzo 島岡達三 (b.1919-2007) Designated LNT 1996 ● YOSHITA Minori 吉田美統 (b.1932) Designated LNT in 2001 ● INOUE Manji 井上萬二 (b. 1929) Designated LNT in 1995 ● ISEZAKI Jun 伊勢崎淳 (b.1936) Designated LNT in 2004 ● KATO Takuo 加藤卓夫 (1917-2005) Designated LNT in 1995 ● IMAIZUMI Imaemon XIII 十三代今泉今右衛門 (b.1926-2001) Designated LNT in 1989 ● MIWA Kyusetsu XI 十一代 三輪休雪(b.1910-2012) Designated LNT in 1983 ● TOMIMOTO Kenkichi富本憲吉 (b.1886-1963) Designated LNT in 1955 ● SUZUKI Osamu 鈴木蔵 (b. 1934) Designated LNT in 1994