MAEDA Chikubosai ll
(1917-2003)
Maeda's father, Maeda Chikubosai I, was pivotal in promoting individual
expression in the bamboo arts. His son was born late and didn't receive his
father's attention right away. He learned bamboo from his father's
students. Finally, in 1945, after proving his sincerity to his work, he
submitted to the Osaka Craft Exhibition. He won eight subsequent awards.
In 1952 he succeeded to the Chikubosai name and set out in a new direction,
creating his own style that involved weaving extremely fine strips of
bamboo into ingenious and eccentric forms. After seeking advice from Iizuka
Rokansai, his work was accepted in Nitten in 1953 and twelve times
thereafter. That same year, one of his baskets was presented to the Emperor
as a gift from the governor of Osaka. His work has been part of numerous
traveling exhibitions in Germany, New Zealand, and Austria and part of the
1979 "Japan Style" exhibit in England. Maeda's work is part of the San
Francisco Asian Art Museum and Denver Art Museum collections.
Maeda received the Order of Sacred Treasure from the Japanese government in
1992 and the supreme honor, in 1995, of becoming the third bamboo artist
designated a Living National Treasure.
"I sometimes find myself wondering if the best piece I make will be my last
or even if I have made it already," he once said. "Bragging about your work
is not good. An artist needs humility to make great art."
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