KOGEI Art Fair Kanazawa 2024

November 29: Vip preview 1-7 pm
November 30: General Admission 11 am-7 pm
December 1: General Admission 11 am-6 pm

Hyatt Centric Kanazawa 6F Room No.602（reception 2F）
1-5-2, Hirooka, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-0031 JAPAN

KOGEI Art Fair Kanazawa 2024

Gallery Sekiryu is pleased to participate in ART FAIR KOGEI KANAZAWA 2024, held at Hyatt Centric Kanazawa.

– Japanese Lacquer, Fabric, Vitreous enamel –

These materials, deeply connected to the history of their techniques' evolution and valued for their practical properties, have long been discussed under the umbrella of "kogei" (craft).

The five artists we are introducing this time —Shunsuke Osone, Minako Nakai, Sakura Yabe (Japanese Lacquer), ARADOMO (fabric), and Astrid Köppe (Vitreous enamel)—take materials deeply rooted in the flow of time and close to our daily lives and elevate them into unique expressions through rediscovery and reinterpretation.

Our exhibit aspires to return to the essence of art—offering a sense of the potential in materials and techniques while fostering healing, playfulness, and spiritual enrichment, such as prayer.

We look forward to welcoming you at Room No. 602.

Shunsuke Osone

Born in 1978 in Kanagawa Prefecture, Shunsuke Osone is based in Azumino City, Nagano. After about eleven years decade restoring Buddhist sculptures at the National Treasure Repair Institute, he shifted to creating realistic animal portraits using dry lacquer. Osone’s works are shaped by extensive research, observation, and dialogue with his models at zoos and aquariums, bringing each animal to life with unique textures and presence. Recent exhibitions include "Animals and Stories" (Ota City Museum & Library, Gunma, 2023) and the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale (Niigata, 2024). His work is in the collection of Matsumoto City Museum of Art.

≪Works by Shunsuke Osone≫

Minako Nakai

Born in 1996 in Tokyo, Minako Nakai transforms the Japanese lacquer’s elegant texture, strength, and durability into bold, sculptural forms. Her works combine unexpected materials and draw inspiration from contemporary sculpture, pop culture, and archaeological relics, blending tradition with innovation. Winner of the Grand Prize at the Art Meets Architecture Competition 2024, she has a large-scale piece permanently installed in a new condominium in Tokyo.

≪Works by Minako Nakai≫

Sakura Yabe

Born in 1995 in Shizuoka, Sakura Yabe studied wood carving, ceramics, and weaving in rural Sweden during her time at Tokyo University of the Arts. Her work is influenced by folk art and religious paintings created by anonymous artists. Using lacquer techniques, Yabe creates mythical creatures, plants, and humans, exploring new possibilities for lacquer art beyond traditional Japanese craft. She aims to create works that act as guardians or sources of comfort for viewers.

≪Works by Sakura Yabe≫

ARADOMO

Born in 1994 in Kanagawa Prefecture, ARADOMO uses raised fabrics and freehand-like sewing to create three-dimensional parts, assembled like building blocks into playful forms. The soft, textured surfaces invite touch, fostering a unique connection between viewers and the work. ARADOMO captures fleeting memories and the charm of everyday gestures through these fuzzy objects. Winner of the Grand Prix in the MARKET category at SICF24 (Spiral, Tokyo).

≪Works by ARADOMO≫

Astrid Köppe

Born in 1974 in Köthen, Germany, Astrid Köppe is based in Berlin. She creates drawings of mysterious, vaguely familiar forms, rendered without backgrounds. She also works with vitreous enamel, layering glass-based glaze on metal plates using stencils and kiln firing. This technique, typically used for household and industrial items, gives her objects a unique floating quality distinct from her paper works. Köppe has exhibited widely in Europe and Asia, and her works are part of public collections, including Kupferstichkabinett (Museum of Prints and Drawings), Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg.

≪Works by Astrid Köppe≫