Michiko Suganuma

Michiko Suganuma (菅沼　三千子 Michiko suganuma(b.1940) is one of the most prominent and respectable urushi artists in Japan. She is the only Japanese female to have presented her collection at exhibitions of National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. Her works are held in the collection of the gallery.

Career

After graduating from Joshibi University of Art and Design, Michiko Suganuma studied the historical lacquer of Kamakura-bori in her 20s. For Kamakura-bori,(bori means wood-carving), Michiko began to learn how to carve the wood but soon she found great interest in coating lacquer. In 1976 Michiko was given a certificate for urushi coating by the Governor of Kanagawa. She opened her first atelier in 1977. For 12 years since 1985, she was a visiting teacher of primary schools in Zushi, a neighboring town of Kamakura for teaching traditional industry of lacquer. Michiko successfully exhibited her first show of 6 typical Kamakura-bori and 6 urushi forerunner of Wagae-nuri at National Gallery of Victoria in 1984. Soon after, Michiko named her object Wagae-nuri.

Currently

In 1983 Michiko Suganuma had a big exhibition call “100Urushi-ware” showing Wagae-nuri in collaboration with her own Kamakura-bori. Michiko’s Wagae-nuri was awarded both Minister of Education and Superintendent of Education Kanagawa in the year of 1992. Holding a lecture and exhibition of Kamakura-bori and Wagae-nuri at Minato International Association of Tokyo. The Minato Ward Office purchased Michiko’s Kamakura-bori which was exhibited at the National Gallery of Victoria in 1984 was finally presented to the Australian Embassy of Tokyo in 1998. In 1984, Michiko Suganuma successfully held the first living artist’s exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. Twenty years later in 2004, the gallery carried out “The Art of Zen” and there Michiko’s tea ceremony goods were shown. As 2006 Australia-Japan Year of the 30th anniversary, the National Gallery of Victoria carried out “Focus on Japanese Lacquer” and Michiko’s cinnabar-red object was put on show then. Now it can be seen at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne and at the Australian Embassy of Tokyo.

Awards

In 1978 at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Gallery, Michiko Suganuma obtained Freshman Prize for transparent urushi object of the originator of Wagae-nuri. In the same year, the object was also selected by Kanagawa-prefecture and transparent urushi objects have been selected every year for while. From 1979 to 1982, she obtained Encouragement Prize, Effort Prize, Industrial Arts Great Prize for transparent urushi objects at Tokyo Metropolitan Art Galery Michiko Suganuma decided to name her own created urushi ware Wagae-nuri.

Style

Michiko Suganuma’s signature technique inspiration are cinnabar-red and enameled smooth black. She has created two points; one is the brilliance of an enamel and another is the dullness of an unpolished oxidized silver.

References

• Michiko, Suganuma. "Japanese lacquerware Wagae-nuri".