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Asia Week 2023: celebrating Ippodo Gallery NY's 15th anniversary
Terumasa Ikeda (born 1987) is an innovative lacquer artist who fabricates shimmering mother-of-pearl designs ingrained into the surface of wood in the raden technique. Ikeda’s idea is strikingly modern; the high-tech motifs that transform the surface into an electronic interface bridge the worlds of classical and contemporary lacquer.
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Experiencing the natural beauty of Japan,
And admiring the cultures and music of the world,
I encountered decoration.
In every civilization, the decorative arts reflect its power, society and aesthetics.
They represent its history and the development of wisdom that separates us from nature.
When we look at great artworks and the legacy of the past, they appear shrouded in sanctity.
Continuing the traditions of the past while searching for an unknowable future,
I want to capture images that express our times as I move forward.
----- Terumasa Ikeda
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日本の美しい自然を感じ、
世界中の文化や音楽に憧れ、
そして装飾に出会いました。
世界中のどんな文明でも、装飾は力と社会と美意識を反映してきました。
それは歴史であり、自然とは一線を画す人智の進歩です。
過去の名品や遺産と向き合う時、その空間は聖性を纏います。
脈々と続く過去を受け継ぎ、未知なる未来を探しながら
この時代を映し留めたいと思い進んでいます。
------ 池田晃将
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Ikeda, who earned his B.A. and M.A. from the Kanazawa College of Art, was drawn to the city as Kanazawa is considered the historical hub for lacquerware in Japan. Under the tutelage of lacquer master Shinya Yamamura, Ikeda trained in the mother-of-pearl inlay technique’s traditional and highly technical aspects. As a student, Ikeda’s experiences in Nepal fostered a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and everyday handmade objects. The vibrant and complex wooden architecture and the culture of making that included every generation of the family from elder to child sparked inspiration inside Ikeda. The Nepalese encounter pushed Ikeda to question the parameters of craftsmanship as an age-old method of interpersonal communication.