Sasaki Shōdō

Sasaki Shōdō ( Japanese 佐 々 木 象 堂 , real first name: Bunzō ( 文 蔵 ); born March 14, 1882 in Sawata ( 佐 和田 町 ), now part of Sado on the island of Sado ; died January 26, 1961 ) was a Japanese metal artist of Taishō and Shōwa periods .

life and work

In 1897, Sasaki completed elementary school in Sawata. From around 1901 he received instruction from Tomita Randō I. ( 初 代 宮 田 藍 堂 ; 1856-1919) in the technique of the lost wax process . In 1913 he traveled to Tōkyō and exhibited his work in the first exhibition of the Ministry of Agriculture and Trade. From 1915/1916 he began to use the name Shōdō. At the Peace Exhibition ( 平和 記念 東京 博 覧 会 , Heiwa kinen Tōkyō hakurankai ) in 1922, he exhibited a cast metal vase that was decorated with chrysanthemum flowers and won a gold medal. He then continued to exhibit in state exhibitions and show works in a modern decorative style.

In 1938 Sasaki built a pottery furnace, which he called Niigata Tōen, and produced Koshiji ceramics with it. In 1947 he built a furnace for Manoyama ceramics and showed that he could keep up in this area too. From 1954 he exhibited at the "Exhibition for traditional handicrafts" ( 日本 伝 統 工 芸 展 , Nihon dentō kōgei-ten ).

Among the best-known works of Sasaki include the "lucky bird" ( 瑞 鳥 , Zuichō ), which he showed at the 6th exhibition and "lucky bull" ( 采花 , Saika ) at the following exhibition. Both were awarded a gold medal and are now in the National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo . In April 1960 he was awarded the “Living National Treasure” for his castings using the lost wax technique.

Remarks

1. ↑ The annual "Exhibition for Traditional Handicrafts" has existed since 1954. Outstanding creators are honored for passing on their skills as - colloquially - "Living National Treasures" .
2. ↑ Literally "blossoming".

literature

• Tazawa, Yutaka: Sasaki Shōdō . In: Biographical Dictionary of Japanese Art. Kodansha International, 1981. ISBN 0-87011-488-3 .

Web links

• Sasaki's works in the National Museum of Modern Art

Japanese name: As is common in Japan, the family name comes before the first name in this article . So Sasaki is the family name, Shōdō the first name.