Judges
Sakurako Matsushima
Professor, Faculty of Education, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi | Director, Asian Lacquer Craft Exchange Research Project Executive Committee
Sakurako Matsushima attended Tokyo University of the Arts and is today Professor at Utsunomiya University in Tochigi Prefecture, and Director of the Asian Lacquer Craft Exchange Project, <https://asian-urushi.com/>. She has exhibited her works worldwide since 1989. These range from sculptures to large, wearable body ornaments and delicate wall installations. These are the range of her artistry; beginning with bamboo or lacquered hemp cloth (kanshitsu) substrate, then incorporates highly sophisticated decorative techniques such as makie and shell inlay. <https://sakurako.com> Since she was student, she became fascinated by this living material, urushi. As she worked with it she became increasingly drawn to its nobleness and the process of bring out its beauty. she would like as many people as possible to experience the artistic expression possible with urushi.
She has exhibited her works worldwide since 1989 at Japan, China, Korea, SE Asia, USA, UK, France, Italy, Turkey, The Netherland, Belgium, etc. Public collections are Philadelphia Museum of Art, Minneapolis Institute of Art, USA, Hiroshima City University, and other.
AWARDS: (selected)
Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Hollis Prize, 2001
Japan Design Competition Ishikawa, Gold Prize, 1991.