Biography
Hafu Matsumoto (b. 1952) studied under Iizuka Shokansai (designated a Living National Treasure in 1982). He then set up his workshop and moved to Tateyama in Chiba in 1988. He is known for creating works out of pieces of bamboo into beautiful organic sculptures. In 2007 he received the Tokyo Governor’s Prize at the 48th East Japan Craft Art Exhibition, and in 2014 he won the Japan Kogei Association Chairman’s prize at the 61st Dento Kogei Ten (Japanese Traditional Craft Art) exhibition. His work is in significant collections, including the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, USA.
Selected Biography
1952 Born in Haneda, Tokyo
1972 Studied bamboo art under IIZUKA Shokansai (Living National Treasure)
1976 Opened a bamboo craft studio in Sunamachi, Koto Ward, Tokyo
1988 Relocated studio to Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture
1996 July to August: Group exhibition of bamboo art at Felissimo Design House, New York
2001 Solo exhibition at Daimaru Department Store, Tokyo
2003 Solo exhibition and NHK broadcast from the Gangetsu-an Tea Room, Shiroyama Park, Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture
2004 Solo exhibition at Ippodo Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo
2009 Invited to exhibit for "The New Bamboo - Modern Japanese Masters-" at Oita Prefectural Art Museum
2011 Exhibited, lectured on bamboo craft for "From Father Shokansai to the Apprentices" about Iizuka Shokansai in Ota City, Gunma Prefecture
2012 Selected for "Exhibition of Tea Ceremony Today- Utility and Form", at Musée Tomo, Toranomon, Tokyo
2013 Exhibited in "The birth of modern bamboo art" at the Tochigi Kuranomachi Museum of Art and relocated to Minamiboso City, Chiba Prefecture
2017 Solo exhibition at Ippodo New York
2019 Collaborated with LOEWE (Spanish fashion brand) to release bamboo products for Milan Fashion Week
1952 Born in Haneda, Tokyo
1972 Studied bamboo art under IIZUKA Shokansai (Living National Treasure)
1976 Opened a bamboo craft studio in Sunamachi, Koto Ward, Tokyo
1988 Relocated studio to Tateyama City, Chiba Prefecture
1996 July to August: Group exhibition of bamboo art at Felissimo Design House, New York
2001 Solo exhibition at Daimaru Department Store, Tokyo
2003 Solo exhibition and NHK broadcast from the Gangetsu-an Tea Room, Shiroyama Park, Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture
2004 Solo exhibition at Ippodo Gallery, Ginza, Tokyo
2009 Invited to exhibit for "The New Bamboo - Modern Japanese Masters-" at Oita Prefectural Art Museum
2011 Exhibited, lectured on bamboo craft for "From Father Shokansai to the Apprentices" about Iizuka Shokansai in Ota City, Gunma Prefecture
2012 Selected for "Exhibition of Tea Ceremony Today- Utility and Form", at Musée Tomo, Toranomon, Tokyo
2013 Exhibited in "The birth of modern bamboo art" at the Tochigi Kuranomachi Museum of Art and relocated to Minamiboso City, Chiba Prefecture
2017 Solo exhibition at Ippodo New York
2019 Collaborated with LOEWE (Spanish fashion brand) to release bamboo products for Milan Fashion Week
Awards
2004 Received the "Cotsen Bamboo Prize" Semi Grand Prix, exhibited at Asian Art Museum, San Francisco
2007 Received the Best New Artist Prize at the 54th Japan Kogei Exhibition
2008 Received the Highest Prize "Tokyo Governor Prize" at the 48th Eastern Branch Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
2014 Received the Chairman of the Japan Kogei Association Prize at the 61st Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition
2007 Received the Best New Artist Prize at the 54th Japan Kogei Exhibition
2008 Received the Highest Prize "Tokyo Governor Prize" at the 48th Eastern Branch Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition
2014 Received the Chairman of the Japan Kogei Association Prize at the 61st Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition
Works
Exhibitions
Blog
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The Art of Kogei
November 16, 2021Kogei are Traditional Crafts of Japan that must meet five requirements to be recognized by the Ministry of Economy. The crafts must be made for...Read more -
Artist Spotlight:
Hafu Matsumoto September 1, 2021Bamboo groves surround the artist Hafu Matsumoto’s studio. He enjoys listening to the sound of wind rustling the leaves. For Matsumoto, his relationship to nature...Read more -
A Slender Silhouette:
On Ippodo Gallery’s Tall Forms December 8, 2020Koichiro Isezaki, Yo, C19718 Placed in a sagger and wrapped carefully in rice straw, each vessel made by Isezaki emerges from the kiln with their...Read more