Japanese traditional craftsman

Shuji Nakagawa is a Japanese traditional craftsman of woodworks.
He creates his works using a various woodwork techniques especially Japanese traditional wooden pail technique.
He is the third generation of his woodwork family and studied woodwork under his father. His father, Kiyotsugu Nakagawa was designated as a living national treasure of Japan in 2001.

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Shuji Nakagawa
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1968 Born in Kyoto,Japan.
1992 Graduated from Kyoto Seika University sculpture course, Faculty of Art
1992 Started woodwork in his father's studio.
1996 Received a superior prize at The Kyoto arts and crafts contest.
1998 Received the grand prize at The Kyoto arts and crafts contest.
2001-2005 Served as part-time teacher in Kyoto University of Art and Design.
2003 Opened own studio "Nakagawa Mokkougei HIRAKOUBOU" in Otsu-City, Shiga.
2007 Installed artwork in festival walk Soga in Chiba.
2009 Installed artwork of SUNMESSE nichinan in Miyazaki.
2009 Solo exhibition Keiou gallery in Tokyo.
2009 Solo exhibition Daimaru gallery in Kyoto.
2010 Created formal champagne cooler for Don Perignon.
2011 Solo exhibition at Hanshin gallery in Osaka.
2011 Future Artefacts in Milano salone by sfera.

KI-OKE

 Shuji Nakagawa create his works using a various woodwork techniques especially
 Japanese traditional buckets (ki-oke) technique.His traditional wooden buckets (ki-oke) are made by arranging strips of woodinto a circle then binding them with a metal or bamboo strip on the outside. This technique is said to have been established in the Muromachi period in Japan, some 700 years ago. In the Edo period, virtually every household used this wooden bucket, in the bath, or in the kitchin for keeping rice or miso.
 Each family had many wooden buckets for various purposes. Although this item has been used for over 500 years, in contemporary times, it is rapidly disappearing. However, the techniques and embedded spirit for making this bucket still have value for today's lifestyle.
 Shuji aims to preserve continue this tradition and to further the beauty of wood and wooden buckets to incorporate them into modern life.