Kusai’s Bamboo Art Show

Recommendation by KAZUE Hyōnenshi

I became acquainted with Kusai about ten years ago, but in art, I feel as if we had known each other for a hundred years. When we talk about art and craft, he and I are getting along very nicely with each other and I can get through to him at all. Now, he will hold an individual show. His works of art are very delicate since he is an acquaintance of Rokansai who is one of the pioneers in the modern bamboo artcrafts. He told me that he would show many of Japanese tea ceremony equipment such as Mizusashi(水指), Hana-ire(花入), Sumitori(炭斗), Kashiki(菓子器), Chashaku(茶杓) and so on. Please visit the Kakiden gallery and look them.

Recommendation by KAZUE Hyōnenshi

Utensils used in Japanese tea ceremony are able to be grouped into two categories. The one is fine and delicate and the other is natural and aesthetic called “Wabi”. In past, Kusai’s artcrafts were very delicate because he is an acquaintance of Rokansai who is one of the pioneers in the modern bamboo artcrafts. In these days he started making Japanese tea ceremony equipment, however, he began to add natural and aesthetic flavor called “Wabi” to them. It’s just a double advantage.
Now he holds the second individual show. I am looking forward to see his good works.

Recommendation by KAZUE Hyōnenshi

HAMAYA Kusai become talkative when he drink, and he is similar to me from this point of view. However, he is very quiet in general. He usually has a delicate sense of art, so his works are also delicate. He had been tried to make utensils used in the Japanese tea ceremony for years, and nowadays he made an amazing Chawan with bamboo. I told him frankly that if he would devise its kuchi-zukuri, weight and more, and he would pioneer a new road to the tea celemony.
Now he holds the third individual show. Please look his show.

Recommendation by KAZUE Hyōnenshi

Kusai polished making Japanese tea ceremony equipment more than ever. His recent Chawans have good shape, weight and touch that made me feel a sense of soft on my palm and lips, so they are perfect workmanship. Although even ancestors couldn’t think of pouring water for things woven from bamboo, he succeeded excellently and began to make good equipment for tea ceremony. Anyway, I can’t help amazing at him. I’m looking forward to seeing how he will evolve them in the future.

Now he holds the fourth show. Please see his artcrafts.

Recommendation by KAZUE Hyōnenshi

The fifth Kusai’s Bamboo Art Show will be held. A talent for art can’t be changed since the artist is a natural for art. Kusai’s color is based on his delicate and literary character. His works contains something such as pathos that looks at his view of life.

In recent years, He makes various Japanese tea ceremony equipment and I dearly prefer them because their delicate air soften atmosphere of tea ceremony room. I want you to see the show this time.

Recommendation by KAZUE Hyōnenshi

Kusai will hold the 6th show. Japanese tea ceremony equipment woven from bamboo are able to be grouped into two categories. The one is fine and delicate and the other is natural and aesthetic called “Wabi”. Kusai is good at formaer, kind of. His smart works correspond well to tea ceremony held at hall. He will show various works for tea ceremony. I would like you to visit this show.

Recommendation by KAZUE Hyōnenshi

His walking figure with streaming white hair looks like a Chinese legend such as Hanshan(寒山). He is aloof from the world but he concentrate on making works. It is wonderful.

It passed about ten years from his start of making tea ceremony equipment, he polished his smart style more than ever. His individual show held many times at the Kakiden gallery and this is the seventh. He shows various works such as Chawan(茶碗), Chaki(茶器), Chashaku(茶杓), kogo(香合), mizu-sashi(水指), syokukago(食籠­) and more, so I expect it. I would like you to visit this show.

Recommendation by KAZUE Hyōnenshi

I wrote his walking figure with streaming white hair looks like a hermit before, he polished his style more than ever. He once worked for a recording label, but he interested in bamboo crafts and turned a bamboo artist after WWII. He is very delicate and his works is also beautiful because his former job related to music. He made tea ceremony equipmenet for the last ten decades. He made containers which we couldn’t have imagined before such as Chawan(茶碗) or mizu-sashi(水指).

Many tea ceremony equipment will be showed in the eighth show. Please see it.

Recommendation by KAZUE Hyōnenshi

Kusai’s artcrafts were very delicate, so he was often particular about technique. I wrote “were” as the past form because he changed his style in recent years. He cultivates his easygoing and hermit like style and makes his artcrafts aesthetic called “Wabi”. His earlier artcraft copied from the Chinese artcraft was looked like just a replica of Chinese original, but now his one isn’t only a replica of Chinese original. I looked his artcraft copied from Chinese one the other day and I felt it had a feel of Japanese and it was great . I think what he does is the best way for the Chanoyu in future.

Although I use Chawan made by him in every summer for ten years, his storong Chawan didn’t break and it became more and more calm.

The Art Show is the ninth. You may already have become a Kusai admirer but I suggest as many people as possible to look his artcrafts.

Recommendation by KAZUE Hyōnenshi

Kusai’s works have unique air. His walking figure with streaming white hair looks like just a hermit. I’m interested in his style appeared in his works. When he was young, he learned Rokansai, so he is good at Chinese bamboo weaving. However, his works is not only the so-called replica of the Chinese original but also aesthetic and correspond to tea ceremony. I also use Chawan made with his novelties in summer for ten years, it became more and more calm. He will show various works such as Hana-Kago(花籠­), Chashaku(茶杓), Hana-ire(花入れ) and more in this show. Please see it and support him.